NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he is confident about a deal on defence spending. He spoke during a meeting with European allies in Rome. The talks focused on boosting support for Ukraine amid rising Russian attacks. The meeting included diplomats from Italy, France, Germany, Britain, Poland, Spain, Ukraine, and the EU.
Rutte urged NATO members to commit to spending 3.5 percent of GDP on direct military costs by 2032. He also proposed an extra 1.5 percent for broader security expenses. This plan aims to meet US President Donald Trump’s demand for 5 percent defence spending. The final decisions will be made at a NATO summit in The Hague later this month.
The Rome meeting came before a G7 summit in Canada, where allies will pressure Trump to take a tougher stance on Russia. Rutte praised Trump’s efforts to push for peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, talks remain stalled as Russia continues heavy missile attacks on Ukraine.
Russia recently sent a historian to Istanbul talks, blaming Ukraine for the conflict. Rutte said this approach is not helpful but the allies keep trying to find progress. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani supported the spending plan but asked for a longer timeline. Italy plans to increase defence spending gradually over ten years.
In conclusion, NATO hopes to finalize a united defence budget plan soon. The alliance wants to strengthen military support for Ukraine and keep peace efforts alive. The upcoming summits will be key to securing agreement among all 32 NATO members.