NATO Scrambles to Increase Defense Spending After Trump’s Demand [WATCH]

European NATO members have agreed to increase their defense spending following President Donald Trump’s call for contributions to reach 5% of each nation’s GDP.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the decision Monday, emphasizing that while progress has been made, European allies must do more to share the financial burden of the alliance.

“Right now, we are spending $700 billion more on the European side of NATO than before President Trump came into office.

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It is absolutely still not enough. We have to do much, much more,” Rutte stated in an interview on Fox News’ The Story.

Acknowledging the United States’ critical role within NATO, Rutte supported the push for European nations to take on a greater share of defense spending.

“The U.S. is by far the most important ally within NATO, but the U.S. is absolutely right that it is only fair that on the European side of NATO, we ramp up spending because we need to do it for our own defense. But also, because it is fair to get this balance with what the U.S. is spending on defense,” he said.

Rutte’s remarks came as European leaders convened for an emergency summit in Paris to discuss an upcoming diplomatic meeting between U.S. and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.

The talks are intended to explore a potential resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine, led by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The summit followed comments by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who signaled last week that NATO membership for Ukraine is an unrealistic expectation in any negotiated settlement.

He emphasized that security in the region must be ensured through other means.

“To be clear, as part of any security guarantee, there will not be US troops deployed to Ukraine,” Hegseth said.

The statement sparked concern among some European officials, who fear that ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine could weaken Western leverage in negotiations with Russia.

Despite initial concerns over the U.S. approach, Rutte expressed confidence in the team handling the negotiations and stressed the importance of Europe stepping up its defense role.

“We have to work together to make sure that we keep the whole of NATO territory safe,” Rutte told Fox News host Martha MacCallum.

“But clearly, we have to step up on this part and when it comes to the other theaters, the other areas in the world where the U.S. has to concentrate its attention on, obviously China and, of course, the Middle East, it’s only fair that you ask the Europeans to do more so that they can be able to make sure that they can have their attention concentrating on all these areas, including Europe.”

Responding to claims that Trump is appeasing Putin by pursuing peace talks, Rutte defended the president’s actions, stating that Trump is focused on ending the war.

“What the American president is doing, he wants to bring this war to an end. He has taken initiatives to do that,” Rutte said.

“That whole process is now starting. And Europeans were a bit rattled when that started and started to complain that they were not involved. They are now stepping up. They’re getting their act together, wanting to participate.”

As NATO leaders consider future security arrangements for Ukraine, Rutte underscored the importance of deterrence to prevent further Russian aggression.

He stated that any agreement must ensure “lasting” and “durable” peace while keeping Ukraine’s security a top priority.

European leaders are now working on alternative security guarantees for Ukraine, particularly if the U.S. does not maintain a troop presence in the country post-war.

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