“The countries we are defending must pay for the cost of this defense, and if not, the U.S. must be prepared to let these countries defend themselves. In NATO, for instance, only 4 of 28 other member countries besides America, are spending the minimum required 2 percent of GDP on defense.”
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Trump pressed NATO allies on the 2% of GDP guideline throughout his first term (2017-2021), and allied spending rose steadily over that period and after. NATO reported in March 2026 that, for the first time, all allies met or exceeded the 2% target in 2025, and at the June 24-25, 2025 Hague summit allies committed to 5% of GDP by 2035. The promised outcome - defended allies paying substantially more for their own defense - occurred, so the stated fallback of letting non-payers defend themselves never had to be exercised. Allied increases also reflect the 2014 Wales pledge and Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but the burden-sharing shift the promise demanded took place.
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