Saturday, August 23, 2025

Trump Plans to Push NATO Defense Spending to 5% of GDP

European officials have been informed that President-elect Donald Trump expects NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product after his January 20 inauguration, according to reports from the Financial Times and Telegraph.

This demand represents a significant escalation from both the alliance’s current 2% target and Trump’s previous suggestion of 4% during his first term. The reports also indicate that Trump’s team has assured European officials that support for Ukraine would continue under the new administration, addressing concerns that arose during the presidential campaign when Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance strongly criticized the Biden administration’s billions in military aid to Kyiv.

Recent discussions about NATO’s future spending requirements have already indicated potential increases. A new target of 3% of GDP by 2030 is reportedly under consideration, with NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte expressing support for higher defense budgets during last month’s European Political Community summit in Budapest. “We will have to spend more… It will be much more than the 2%. I’m clear about that,” Rutte stated, adding that “it is time to shift to a wartime mindset.”

A NATO report from June showed that a record 23 out of 32 member countries were meeting the current 2% spending target. However, Trump’s stance on alliance membership remains conditional. In a December 8 NBC interview, he stated that US participation in NATO would continue “if they [allies] pay their bills,” while indicating he would have no problem leaving if that condition wasn’t met.

This proposed increase would represent the most significant change to NATO’s defense spending requirements since the 2% target was established, potentially reshaping the alliance’s financial structure and military capabilities under a second Trump presidency.


Information for this story was found via the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.

Video Articles

A Medical Breakthrough the Market Overlooked | David Elsley – Cardiol Therapeutics

Why Grade Beats Size in Silver Mining | Frank Basa – Nord Precious Metals

Are Investors Missing the Start of the Next Commodity Supercycle? | Morgan Lekstrom – NexMetals

Recommended

Emerita Resources Expands El Cura Drill Program By 10,000 Metres As Deposit Remains Open For Expansion

ESGold Signs MOU For Tailings Project In Colombia With Grades Up To 42 g/t Gold, 280 g/t Silver

Related News

TMTG: Trump Media Files $3.78-Billion Lawsuit Against Washington Post For Defamation

Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) filed a lawsuit in a Florida civil court against...

Monday, May 22, 2023, 08:53:59 AM

Donald Trump Enters Not Guilty Plea in Georgia Election Case

Former US President Donald Trump, facing allegations of election interference in Georgia, has boldly pleaded...

Thursday, August 31, 2023, 12:20:45 PM

Trump Claims U.S. Doesn’t Need Canada—But the Numbers Tell a Different Story

When U.S. President-elect Donald Trump declared, “We don’t need anything that Canada has,” his statement...

Sunday, January 12, 2025, 11:31:00 AM

External Revenue Service: Trump’s Latest Venture into Doing What’s Already Being Done

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has proposed the creation of a new agency known as the...

Sunday, January 19, 2025, 05:47:00 PM

Donald Trump Fires Back, Says He Could’ve Asked Elon Musk To Drop To His Knees And Beg

And so the Donald Trump-Elon Musk social media melodrama continues.  In a not-so-surprising turn of...

Wednesday, July 13, 2022, 10:58:00 AM