US President Donald Trump, the 47th president, said the United States should not spend 5% of its GDP on defense, while other members of the alliance are obliged to reach that level. According to The New York Times, Trump stressed that the American side does not intend to continue to bear the brunt of the financial burden for Europe's security, calling on allies to strengthen their military budgets to counter challenges, including potential threats from Russia and cyberattacks attributed to China.

According to Politico, Trump’s proposal has sparked heated debate among NATO leaders. Countries like Italy and Spain, which have barely reached the current 2% GDP target, have expressed concerns about the feasibility of the new requirements. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot noted that increasing spending to 5% could undermine social programs in the face of economic hardship. In contrast, representatives from Poland and Estonia, whose spending is already close to 3% of GDP, have supported the initiative, citing the need to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank, Defense News reported.

As Reuters notes, in 2024, only 23 of the 32 alliance countries have reached a spending level of 2% of GDP, making the 5% goal ambitious. Atlantic Council expert Rachel Rizzo in an interview with the BBC indicated that Trump's proposal could be part of his strategy of pressuring allies to increase their role in the alliance, especially against the backdrop of his promises to reduce US involvement in international conflicts. At the same time, according to The Wall Street Journal, the Trump administration is considering reviewing US commitments to NATO if allies do not increase funding.