Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stated Friday that President Trump’s call for NATO countries to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense is “very, very difficult” for most members.
“I think 5% is frankly very challenging,” Mitsotakis said in a CNBC interview. “For hard defense spending, 3.5% is likely the maximum that could be reasonably accepted.”
President Trump has consistently pressed NATO allies to increase defense budgets, pushing for a 5% GDP contribution since taking office in January. While Mitsotakis called the 5% target unrealistic in the short term, he noted it could be a feasible long-term goal if broader defensive infrastructure investments are included.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has proposed a 5% spending threshold by 2032, with 3.5% for defense and 1.5% for other security-related investments.
Many NATO members struggle to meet the existing 2% GDP defense spending goal. NATO data shows only Estonia, Poland, and the U.S. exceeded 3.4% last year. Greece surpassed the 2% target, spending 3.1% of its GDP on defense.
Russia’s war in Ukraine and Trump’s demands have spurred renewed focus on defense spending. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, recently elected, emphasized Europe’s security needs, stating Thursday at a tank brigade deployment in Lithuania, “This is fitting for Europe’s most populous and economically powerful nation. Our allies expect, even demand, this from us.”
Spain also announced a $10 billion investment last month to meet the 2% NATO goal sooner than its projected 2029 timeline.
Original article: www.washingtontimes.com
