NATO Foreign Ministers convene to prepare for The Hague summit
(VOVWORLD) - Foreign ministers from NATO member states on Thursday gathered in Brussels for a two-day meeting to focus on ways to increase defense spending and address current geopolitical challenges.
 NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (Photo: PAP/VNA) |
The meeting, part of NATO’s regular spring ministerial format, comes as allies prepare for the upcoming summit in The Hague in June.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters on Wednesday that their top priority is to increase defense investment. Rutte calls on countries to commit to spending at least 3.7% of their GDP on defense as soon as possible and to report progress regularly. But some European nations are concerned that committing too much and too soon could heavily pressure their budgets amid low economic growth and rising financial deficits.
Trade between the US and the EU and strengthening cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners will also be high on the agenda.
Although Ukraine joining NATO was not on the agenda this time, European allies are hoping to receive assurances that US weapons will continue to be sent to Ukraine.