NATO foreign ministers discuss defense spending

Alsharq Tribune- Zainab Hussin 

Foreign ministers from NATO member states are meeting in Turkey to talk about various issues ahead of next month's summit. US President Donald Trump's demand that the countries increase their defense spending is among the topics being discussed.

The ministers opened their two-day meeting on Wednesday in Antalya.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed hope that an agreement on the defense budget increase will be reached at next month's NATO summit in the Netherlands. He said the members will "build collectively to have a great Summit in The Hague."

Trump has urged the NATO member states to raise their defense spending to 5 percent of their GDP.

Before the meeting, Rutte suggested that the members should increase defense spending to 3.5 percent of their GDP by 2032. He added that they should spend a further 1.5 percent of their GDP on security-related items. The secretary general said that would enable the nations to meet Trump's 5 percent target.

NATO officials say the foreign ministers are expected to discuss the feasibility of the proposed numerical targets and the timeframe.