Nato allies ‘spending more’ as defence budgets reach record levels, amid worries about Trump

A record 18 out of Nato’s 31 countries are expected to meet the alliance’s defence spending goal this year, a commitment Donald Trump has been pushing for in his White House re-election campaign.

“European allies are spending more” toward the bloc’s target to spend at least 2 per cent of GDP on defence, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Wednesday, adding there had been an “unprecedented” 11 per cent increase in defence spending.

“However, some allies still have some way to go.” He added that allies are “making real progress.”

The announcement comes as US President Joe Biden slammed Trump on Tuesday for suggesting he would allow Russia to attack members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization that underspent, calling the remarks “dangerous” and “un-American.”

Asked about Trump’s comments, Stoltenberg said: “Nato has been able to prevent a military attack against any Nato ally for 75 years. We have done that because it has been absolutely clearly communicated from all Nato allies at any time that we’re there to protect all allies.”