NATO chief urges European allies to present credible rearmament plans

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has called on European allies to demonstrate credible roadmaps for their ongoing rearmament, urging them to present clear and concrete spending plans. Speaking in Ankara ahead of the NATO summit, Stoltenberg stressed the importance of ensuring all nations are on track to meet defense investment goals.

"Here, in Ankara, I expect nations to present clear, concrete and credible [spending] plans to ensure that all countries are on track towards the 5% [defense spending] objective," Stoltenberg warned. The summit, involving heads of state and government from 32 NATO countries, is being closely watched as a gauge of the United States' commitment to the alliance, particularly given Donald Trump's past criticisms of European defense spending.

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Here, in Ankara, I expect nations to present clear, concrete and credible [spending] plans to ensure that all countries are on track towards the 5% [defense spending] objective.

While acknowledging that European allies and Canada have increased their overall defense expenditures, with Canada expected to spend around 4% of its GDP this year, Stoltenberg cautioned that these figures might not be enough to satisfy Trump. The former U.S. president has repeatedly pressured European members to increase their defense budgets and has even suggested he might not defend allies who do not meet his expectations. Stoltenberg, who has invested significant political capital in maintaining a positive relationship with Trump, hinted that NATO has ways to persuade any remaining hesitant members to increase their commitment.

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If there are still one or two of them who need to be convinced, we have ways of doing that.