NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said a number of US allies had relied on Washington for too long to shoulder a significant share of the alliance’s defense burden, while failing to invest sufficiently in strengthening their own security and military capabilities.
Speaking at a forum in Iowa, Rutte said the issue was not new, noting that successive US administrations had urged NATO members to increase their contributions to collective defense and take greater responsibility for their own security.
He added that the situation is now changing as security threats intensify and NATO members gain a greater understanding of what is required to maintain the alliance’s strength and ability to respond to emerging challenges.
Rutte’s comments come as US President Donald Trump continues to pressure NATO members to increase defense spending, calling for members to raise their spending to 5% of gross domestic product.
Trump has also previously expressed dissatisfaction with the level of support provided by some US allies during tensions surrounding the war with Iran, saying he was disappointed with several NATO members.
