BRUSSELS — NATO ‘s secretary general praised the 18 countries that are on track to reach the 2 percent of GDP target on defense spending, and called on the 13 others to help achieve a “fair” burden sharing with the U.S.
“That is another record number, and a six-fold increase from 2014, when only three allies met the target,” `Jens Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers.
In remarks made last week, former U.S. president and current candidate Donald Trump warned he wouldn’t protect countries failing to meet the defense spending target of 2 percent of GDP if they’re attacked. He also threatened he would encourage Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to those countries.