Rutte presented a way to achieve 5 percent. GDP in defense expenses

The Reuters agency announced on Friday that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte proposed to the member states of the alliance to increase defense expenses to 3.5 percent. GDP, and another 1.5 percent GDP has allocated to other defense expenses.

According to Reuters, the purpose of this proposal is to fulfill the postulate of US President Donald Trump that allies allocate 5 percent to defense. GDP.

The proposal that Rutte extended would allow Trump to announce the success at the June NATO summit, and at the same time not oblige European and Canada countries to declare strict defense expenses at the level of 5 percent – adds Reuters. The agency points out that many of these countries consider the level of 5 percent. for impossible to meet for political and economic reasons.

A spokeswoman for NATO Allison Hart, to the question of whether Rutte made such a proposal, only answered that NATO's secretary general has often talked about the need to increase defense expenditure.

On April 24, the head of NATO published an annual report for 2024, in which the expenditure of the Member States for defense was presented. 22 countries exceeded the threshold of 2 percent GDP, determined by NATO in 2014. Allies from Europe and Canada increased in 2024 by over 19 percent. Several countries that have not yet managed to achieve the goal of 2 percent. GDP has recently committed to intensify efforts in this direction. (PAP)

AWL/ AP/