Germany, Poland, Great Britain, France and Italy, the largest European powers in NATO, pledged to implement as soon as possible new targets for armaments and troop numbers, which are expected to be approved by the alliance.
NATO is facing increased pressure not only because of Russia's intervention in Ukraine but also because of calls from US President-elect Donald Trump for members to spend more on defence. The summit in The Hague in June is expected to demand an increase in the 2% target for military spending, while the Republican has recently called for it to go to 5%.
Speaking after meeting with his four counterparts, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius welcomed NATO's decision to present the new military capability goals in June, as opposed to the original plan for October: "We are collectively saying that our focus should be on the rapid implementation of the NATO capability goals, which will be adopted in the summer. What are these goals? They are the troops, weapons, systems and formations needed to achieve the goals set for effective and successful defense and deterrence. Since NATO has decided, at our request, to present them in June rather than in October, this gives us plenty of time and we can start implementing them much earlier."
Meanwhile, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called on the European Union on Monday to rethink spending priorities in order to strengthen defense budgets. However, despite growing concerns about the rise to power of Trump, who has threatened Canada's independence and has not ruled out taking over the Panama Canal or Greenland by force, Rutte insisted that Europe is still tied to the United States for its security needs. He said it was an illusion to think it could do it alone when it came to defense.
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