Trump says U.S. won’t raise military spending to 5% of GDP

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that the United States should not be required to meet the same military spending target it is demanding from NATO allies, insisting Washington already shoulders the alliance's financial burden.

“I think they should do it. I don’t think we should. But I think they should,” Trump told reporters in New Jersey, where he arrived from Washington to spend the weekend at his Bedminster golf club. “We’ve been supporting NATO for so long — in many cases paying what I consider 100% of the costs.”

Trump’s remarks came amid calls from within NATO to increase defense spending by member states to 5% of GDP. According to the World Bank, U.S. military expenditures stood at about 3.4% of GDP in 2023.

Trump also criticized Spain for rejecting a request from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to raise its defense budget to 5% of GDP, and singled out Canada for its low contributions. “NATO will have to deal with Spain. They’ve always paid very little. And you know who else pays very little? A place called Canada,” Trump said.

Despite rising tensions in the Middle East, Trump is expected to attend the NATO summit in The Hague on June 24–25, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Around 45 heads of state and government, foreign and defense ministers, and over 6,000 delegates are expected to attend the meeting, where a formal decision on raising the alliance's defense spending target may be adopted.