Several NATO leaders and a European Union representative convened on Sunday at the North-South Summit in Lapland, Finland, to discuss the pressing need for increased defense spending in light of Russia's ongoing threat to European security. With the incoming Trump administration on the horizon, the discussions took on added significance.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared the 2% GDP benchmark for defense spending as likely outdated, suggesting a need for a higher target. While the assembled leaders agreed on the necessity of exceeding the 2% mark, a concrete new figure remains pending discussions with the incoming US president.
The summit, hosted by Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, also included Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. A recent Financial Times report indicating President-elect Trump's intention to push NATO's defense spending requirement to 5% of GDP was a key topic of conversation.
The Trump transition team, when contacted by Fox News Digital, emphasized President-elect Trump's belief that European nations should fulfill their existing NATO obligations and contribute more to the current conflict, citing an unfair burden on US taxpayers. They further stated Trump's commitment to restoring peace and strengthening American deterrence globally, but did not confirm the 5% target.
This potential increase in defense spending raises questions about its feasibility given calls from some conservative lawmakers and Trump's Vice President-elect to reduce aid to Ukraine, coupled with recent spending disputes within the House Republicans.
While acknowledging Russia as Europe's primary security threat, the NATO leaders at the summit were cautious about reacting to speculation surrounding the Trump administration's policies. Italian Prime Minister Meloni stressed the importance of understanding the new president's actual intentions before making decisions about NATO spending.
Finnish Prime Minister Orpo emphasized the need for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own security, highlighting the challenging geopolitical landscape in regions like the Middle East and North Africa. Kristersson echoed this sentiment, advocating for stronger European defense capabilities to reduce reliance on the US and demonstrate a commitment to security.
During his first term, President Trump successfully pressured several NATO allies to meet the 2% spending target, raising the number of compliant nations from five in 2016 to nine in 2020. This number declined after he left office but has since risen to 23 out of 32 nations in 2024 due to the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Currently, only Poland exceeds 4% spending, while four nations, including the US, surpass 3%.
