NATO escalates European defence spending amid global tensions
Ahead of the NATO foreign ministers' meeting, alliance Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that European defence spending would be brought in line with current levels on the American side, driven both by the Russian threat and the growing influence of China. Journalists also questioned him about the tariffs recently announced by Donald Trump.
What do you need to know?
- NATO plans to increase spending in Europe in response to US actions and threats from Russia and China.
- US President Donald Trump has imposed new tariffs on imported goods, affecting economic relations with the European Union.
- The meeting of NATO foreign ministers will take place in Brussels, where defence and its funding will be discussed.
During a meeting with journalists, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte noted that for many years, the United States had urged European countries to increase their defence spending. He pointed out that significant changes began after Donald Trump assumed office, and that Europe is now set to allocate an additional 700 billion dollars (532 billion pounds) toward this effort.
Reporters also asked him about the recent decision of the American president on tariffs.
US President Donald Trump signed an order on Wednesday imposing "reciprocal tariffs" at a rate of at least 10 per cent on imported goods from abroad, and in the case of the European Union - 20 per cent. Trump described it as America's "declaration of economic independence" and "liberation day".
Rutte clarified that the meeting was not centered on economic matters. Instead, the primary focus would be on strengthening the defense of NATO territory against Russia, which he described as a long-term threat.
Diplomacy chiefs in Brussels. NATO meeting begins
Today and tomorrow in Brussels, there will be a meeting of the foreign ministers of NATO countries. One of the announced topics is the issue of defence and its financing.
Rutte noted that Germany, along with many other countries, has announced plans to boost defense spending. He described it as likely the largest increase in defense expenditure on NATO's European side since the end of the Cold War, while emphasizing that even greater investment is still necessary.
As he pointed out, an important point of the two-day meeting will be the issue of production and the defence industry.
