Donald Trump has frequently spoken about the need for NATO allies to increase the amount they spend on defense.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged EU nations to increase defense spending to meet or exceed the 2 per cent Nato target, echoing Donald Trump’s c

European countries have ramped up defense budgets since Russia's all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2022. And many leaders have said the increased spending must continue to counter the growing military threat from Moscow.

Slovakia’s pro-Russian prime minister has raised the prospect of his country leaving the European Union and Nato, arguing that world events could consign them to the “history books”.

NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Monday the alliance's military capability targets may require members to spend as much as 3.7% of GDP on defence but this figure could be reduced with innovation and joint procurement.

NATO boss Mark Rutte said Trump "has been right many times" and played it cool when grilled by members of the European Parliament on the president-elect's Greenland plans.

Germany met NATO's target to spend 2% of its gross domestic product on defence in 2024, the government said on Monday, though well short of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump's call for as much as 5%.

A Danish Member of the European Parliament had some pointed words for President Donald Trump. As he did during his first term, Trump has expressed interest in attempting to acquire Greenland – the large and autonomous Danish territory between Canada and Iceland. Politicians in Denmark and Greenland have said the territory is not for sale.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has stressed in his conversation with European Parliament members that he believes defence spending at a level of 2% is insufficient to ensure the safety of allies in the next four to five years.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said members have to boost spending. If not Europeans should "get out your Russian language courses or go to New Zealand," he said. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told members of the security alliance to boost defense spending or prepare to learn Russian.

The EU needs to rethink its spending priorities to boost defense budgets, NATO's new Secretary-General Mark Rutte told the European Parliament on Monday. "On average, European countries easily spend up to a quarter of their national income on pensions ...

NATO and its eight Baltic Sea allies say they are stepping up efforts to deter 'any attempts at sabotage' in the wake of a series of incidents that have damaged key undersea power and telecommunications cables.