White House is calling for NATO countries to increase defense spending
Photo: Karine Jean-Pierre, White House spokeswoman (Getty Images)
The administration of the President of the United States expects that more member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will increase their contributions to the defense needs of the bloc to two percent of their own GDP, according to a statement from White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre during a briefing.
According to the American official, the United States hopes for such steps from the countries that are part of NATO before the bloc's summit in Washington, which is scheduled to take place in a few months.
The White House representative also drew attention to the security threat against the backdrop of ongoing large-scale military aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
Calls for increased defense spending
Earlier, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that this year a record 18 out of 31 NATO members will meet the alliance's target for defense spending - 2% of GDP.
Additionally, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has suggested that Europe should limit spending on social welfare and reduce taxes to deter a more aggressive Russia by continuously increasing defense and security funding.
Furthermore, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen stated that the European Union must do more for defense by replenishing and modernizing weapons. The EU should also support Ukraine.
Recently, Polish President Andrzej Duda declared that NATO member countries should increase defense spending to at least 3% of GDP.
