NATO Secretary-General led a renewed effort for European nations to boost defense spending, following concerns raised by President-elect Donald Trump during his first term in office. The push comes as a response to Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and the subsequent need for increased military capabilities.
Since the full-fledged invasion by Russia almost three years ago, NATO leaders have emphasized the importance of meeting the 2% of GDP target for military budgets. While the average spending by U.S. allies combined meets this figure, a significant portion of members still fall short individually.
