Rutte: Progress made toward NATO’s 5 percent defense spending target
Brussels, June 18 (Hibya) - NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that significant progress has been made on increasing defense spending during the Defense Ministers' Meeting held ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara.
Rutte provided an assessment of the NATO Defense Ministers' Meeting.
He stated that substantial progress had been achieved in efforts to increase defense spending during the final meeting held before the NATO Summit in Ankara.
Rutte said there is strong determination among member states to raise defense expenditures to 5 percent of gross domestic product, adding that some allied countries are expected to reach this target within this year.
Noting that European countries and Canada are increasing their defense budgets, Rutte said that this upward trend is expected to continue in 2026.
British News Agency