Nato spending at record high as 18 member states hit 2pc target

NATO spending is at “unprecedented” levels, the alliance’s chief said yesterday, after Donald Trump raised doubts about its future.

Jens Stoltenberg said 18 of the alliance’s 31 members were on track to hit the minimum spending goal of 2 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). The group includes Germany, Europe’s largest economy, which is set to reach the target this year for the first time.

It means European Nato member states will be spending a record $380billion (£302billion). France, however, is not expected to hit the 2 per cent level until 2025. Last week, Donald Trump said he would encourage Russia to attack Nato allies that did not meet the target.

Mr Stoltenberg, the Nato Secretary General, told reporters at a two-day meeting of alliance defence ministers: “The criticism that we hear is not primarily about Nato, it’s about Nato allies not spending enough.”

He added: “European allies and Canada have to spend more because we haven’t seen fair burden-sharing.” He said the 13 allies not yet meeting the 2 per cent minimum must spend more.

Promises of increased defence spending rose after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It ushered in an “unprecedented” 11 per cent increase, Mr Stoltenberg said. In 2014, when the spending target was set at a summit in Cardiff, just three countries reached the goal – Britain, the United States and Greece.

After Mr Trump’s outburst, Nato diplomats acknowledged the only way to ensure his support if he wins the presidency for a second time is to continue to raise spending. The former US presi- dent has previously threatened to withdraw America from the alliance if its European members do not do more.

If he wins the White House race, the alliance will increase its focus on the threats posed by China and terrorism to manage his opposition, one source said.

Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, who will retire from domestic office when a new government is formed, is seen as a crucial part of managing Mr Trump’s potential return to power.

Britain, Germany and the US have privately voiced backing for Mr Rutte, seen as an experienced safe pair of hands, to be the next secretary general of Nato, sources told The Telegraph.

Internally, only Hungary and Turkey are seen as potential opponents but they do not pose an insurmountable challenge, the insiders added.