Brussels (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) 28 January 2026 – European defence ministers received urgent calls to substantially increase military spending following policy shifts by US President Donald Trump. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that Europe must assume greater responsibility for collective defence. The appeals coincide with Trump's inauguration pledges to reassess US commitments to the alliance.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte addressed defence ministers from 32 alliance members during an extraordinary North Atlantic Council meeting in Brussels on 27 January. Rutte stated that European nations need to "step up" their defence contributions substantially within the next four years to meet emerging security challenges. The comments followed President Trump's repeated assertions that Europe should bear more of the burden for its own protection.
Trump, inaugurated for his second term on 20 January, reiterated during his inaugural address that NATO members failing to meet the 2% GDP defence spending target face potential US troop withdrawals from Europe. Rutte confirmed ongoing consultations with the Trump administration regarding burden-sharing arrangements established under the 2014 Wales Summit pledge.
NATO Secretary General's Urgent Appeal
Rutte specified that 23 NATO members currently meet or exceed the 2% of GDP defence spending guideline agreed at the 2014 Wales Summit. He noted Poland's expenditure at 4.1% of GDP, Estonia at 3.4%, and the United States at 3.2% for 2025 fiscal years. Germany reached 2% for the first time in 2024, allocating €74 billion to Bundeswehr modernisation.
The Secretary General highlighted Russia's 6.7% GDP military budget and China's rapid naval expansion as primary threats requiring enhanced European capabilities. Rutte disclosed that NATO's regional plans now assume capacity for wartime sustainment of 300,000 troops at high readiness, doubling previous targets. European allies committed €650 billion collectively in 2025, representing 67% of total alliance defence expenditure.
Rutte praised France's nuclear deterrent modernisation costing €41 billion through 2035 and the United Kingdom's commitment to three 2.5% GDP scenarios by 2028. He confirmed 180,000 US troops remain stationed across Europe, primarily in Germany, Poland, and Italy under Enhanced Forward Presence battlegroups.
Trump's Defence Policy Shifts
President Trump designated NATO spending as a "top priority" during 22 January National Security Council meeting, directing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to audit European host nation support costs exceeding $15 billion annually. Trump referenced 22 NATO members below 2% threshold during Davos virtual address, stating "America cannot subsidise European security indefinitely."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump's executive order establishing NATO Contribution Review Commission chaired by Elbridge Colby. The commission examines reimbursement formulas for 85 US bases hosting 120,000 personnel and families. Hegseth announced rotational deployments of 20,000 marines to Romania and Baltic states replacing permanent garrisons.
Trump administration officials disclosed plans for Patriot missile batteries relocation from Germany to Poland and Romania, aligning with Eastern Flank reinforcement. Congressional defence authorisation maintains $61 billion Ukraine supplemental while conditioning $8 billion F-35 transfers to 18 European operators on spending compliance.
European Responses to Burden-Sharing Demands
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged additional €100 billion over four years during Munich Security Conference preparation speech. Merz confirmed procurement of 35 F-35A fighters and 60 Eurofighter Typhoons joining 235 Leopard 2A8 tanks by 2028. France announced €50 billion military programming law increasing nuclear warhead count to 320.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey detailed £2.2 billion supplemental funding for 12 new Astute-class submarines and 24 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni committed 2.2% GDP target by 2027, accelerating Fremm Er frigate deliveries to 10 vessels. Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles confirmed €14 billion modernisation including S-80 Plus submarines.
Poland's Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski revealed $10 billion US offset deal securing 96 Apache helicopters and 48 Himars launchers. Netherlands parliament approved €20 billion capability package funding six Patriot PAC-3 batteries and four F-35 squadrons.
Current NATO Defence Spending Landscape
Alliance data confirms €1.47 trillion total 2025 expenditure with Europe and Canada contributing €450 billion. Poland leads continental spending at €38 billion, followed by Germany €74 billion, France €59 billion, and UK €75 billion. Baltic states average 2.7% GDP with Lithuania procuring 400 Javelin missiles andSpike ATGMs.
Turkey maintains 1.8% spending despite S-400 acquisition controversy, operating 1,200 Leopard 2A4 tanks. Greece reaches 2.9% funding Rafale F4 jets and Belharra frigates. Portugal approved €8 billion force design review prioritising four Karel Doorman-class patrol vessels.
Sweden integrated two Archer 155mm howitzers battalions post-NATO accession, spending 2.1% GDP. Finland fields 280 F-35As under HX programme costing €11.5 billion through 2030.
Specific Capability Shortfalls Identified
Rutte outlined air defence deficit requiring 300 additional Patriot, SAMP-T, and NASAMS batteries across Europe. Missile warning gap necessitates 50 Awacs rotations annually versus current 30 sorties. Strategic airlift shortfall demands 200 more Airbus A400Ms supplementing 15 C-17 Globemasters.
Naval requirements include 40 frigates and 25 submarines for Baltic and Black Sea operations. Artillery production targets 6,000 155mm rounds daily against current 2,500 capacity. European Defence Agency recorded €140 billion procurement contracts signed since 2022.
US Military Posture Adjustments
Pentagon confirmed 100,000 troops forward deployed across 17 European locations with 12,000 rotational forces. Ramstein Air Base hosts 35,000 personnel operating F-35A fleet reaching 48 aircraft by 2027. US Marine Corps activates 2nd Marine Division forward headquarters in Poland training 10,000 Ukrainian marines.
US Space Force establishes Combined Space Operations Centre Europe at Pyla, Greece monitoring 2,000 Russian satellites. Cyber Command rotates 800 personnel through Tallinn and Tallinn supporting Estonian Defence Forces.
Historical Context of Burden-Sharing Debates
2018 NATO Summit established 2% guideline with 30-70 spending split between Europe and North America. Post-Afghanistan drawdown saw US contribution decline from 70% to 65%. 2022 Russia invasion prompted 11 nations crossing threshold versus three in 2014.
Trump's first term yielded $400 billion European spending increase through 2024 per White House metrics. Biden administration secured €1 trillion capability targets at 2022 Madrid Summit pledging 300,000 high readiness forces.
National Positions and Commitments
Denmark parliament approved 2.3% GDP target funding four Stanflex 4100 frigates. Norway committed €12 billion submarine replacement programme selecting Type 212CD design. Belgium accelerates F-35 purchase to 34 aircraft ahead of 2030 schedule.
Czech Republic procures 24 F-35As under government declaration costing €15 billion. Hungary negotiates €2 billion Himars acquisition offsetting Russian gas contracts. Slovakia receives 14 F-16V block 70/72 jets under EDA framework.
Industrial Base Expansion Plans
Rheinmetall scales 155mm production to 1 million rounds annually across German, Dutch, Italian facilities. MBDA manufactures 6,000 Aster 30 missiles through 2030. Saab delivers 110 Gripen E/F aircraft to Sweden, Brazil, Colombia.
Navantia Spain constructs eight Bonifaz-class frigates for export markets. Naval Group France launches six Barracuda submarines with Australian, Dutch partners. Leonardo helicopters delivers 100 AW169M platforms to European special forces.
Implementation Timeline and Benchmarks
Rutte established 2028 defence investment plan requiring €300 billion additional European spending. Annual progress reports mandated at June summits with capability targets verified by SACEUR inspections. 2030 horizon targets three million total alliance forces with 500,000 European deployable units.
European Defence Fund allocates €13 billion research grants prioritising AI targeting, hypersonic interceptors, directed energy weapons. Permanent Structured Cooperation approves 60 projects benefiting 25 member states.