Trump Says NATO Nations Should Spend 5% of GDP on Defense
- Allies already boosted spending after earlier Trump pressure
- NATO sees need to spend more amid shaky US commitment, Russia
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President-elect Donald Trump said NATO nations should spend the equivalent of 5% of their economic output on defense, escalating his demands on European allies to more than double the current target.
“I think NATO should have 5%,” Trump said Tuesday at a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort Florida. “I’m the one that got them to pay 2%,” he said, referring to pressure he exerted during his previous term to meet the current spending target.