Secretary of State Marco Rubio is making waves in Europe with a bold call for NATO allies to dramatically increase their defense spending, urging member nations to raise their military budgets to 5% of GDP—more than double the current alliance standard.
Speaking at a high-level NATO gathering in Brussels, Rubio delivered a clear message: peace through strength isn’t just a slogan, it’s a necessity. “We want NATO to be stronger. We want NATO to be more visible,” Rubio said. “The only way NATO can get stronger is if our partners—the nation states that comprise this important alliance—have more capability.”
Rubio acknowledged that reaching the 5% mark won’t be easy for some countries, especially those with bloated social welfare systems and shrinking defense budgets. But he warned that the days of underfunding security while relying on the U.S. military umbrella are over. “The events of the last few years—a full-scale ground war in the heart of Europe—remind us that hard power is still necessary as a deterrent,” he said, referencing the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising threats from authoritarian regimes.
The United States, Rubio confirmed, will lead by example. The current U.S. defense budget sits at 3.38% of GDP, already one of the highest among NATO members. Under President Trump’s direction, the goal is to raise that to the full 5%—not just to strengthen America’s military edge, but to challenge allies to do the same.
Currently, NATO’s official guideline is that each member spend at least 2% of GDP on defense, but many continue to fall short. As of now, eight countries—including Canada, Spain, Italy, and Belgium—have yet to meet even the minimum requirement. Only a handful, like Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Greece, have gone above and beyond. Poland stands out as the most aggressive, allocating more than 4% of its GDP to defense.
Rubio’s remarks come as some European leaders and media outlets continue to express concern about the United States’ long-term commitment to NATO, particularly under Trump’s leadership. Rubio dismissed those concerns outright. “As we speak right now, the United States is as active in NATO as it has ever been,” he said. “Some of this hysteria and hyperbole I see in the media is unwarranted. The president has made it clear—he supports NATO. We’re going to remain in NATO.”
But Rubio was equally clear that continued U.S. leadership in the alliance depends on burden-sharing. “This isn’t about the U.S. pulling back—it’s about partners stepping up,” he said. “Our adversaries are watching. Deterrence only works if it’s backed by real capability.”
As the NATO summit approaches, Rubio’s 5% proposal is likely to dominate the agenda. If adopted, it would mark the most ambitious military spending push in the alliance’s modern history and signal a major strategic pivot in a world increasingly defined by power politics.
For the Trump administration, it’s a logical next step in a broader effort to demand accountability from international partners while reinforcing America’s role as the leader of the free world. For NATO’s lagging members, it’s a clear ultimatum: pay your fair share, or risk being left behind in a world that’s becoming more dangerous by the day.
The post Marco Rubio Urges NATO Members To Increase Their Own Defense Spending To 5% Of GDP appeared first on Real News Now.
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