Rutte offers new plan to meet Trump's demands on NATO defense spending

Reuters reported this.

According to the news agency's sources, Rutte proposes to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, and to allocate another 1.5% to broader security spending.

The article says that the definition of “broader category of security-related spending” is yet to be agreed upon. However, sources note that they may include funding for the modernization of roads and bridges, as well as the transportation of heavy military equipment.

At the same time, NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart said in response to a request for information said Rutte had "repeatedly said that increased defense spending is needed in order to meet the capability targets that allies will soon agree and to ensure fairer burden sharing among allies".

"This will likely involve not only higher investment in defence according to the agreed NATO definitions but also additional investment in related areas like infrastructure and resilience," Hart said in an email.

"The Secretary General is working in close consultation with allies to prepare decisions on this for our summit in The Hague," she said.

NATO’s current defence spending goal is at least 2% of GDP, met by 22 of its 32 members.