Rubio Urges NATO to Step Up Defense Spending, Brushes Off Media 'Hysteria'

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a bold call for NATO nations to ramp up their defense spending, proposing a new target of 5% of GDP—a hefty increase from the current 2% commitment many members have yet to meet. Speaking at a NATO foreign ministers' event in Brussels, Rubio emphasized the importance of strengthening defense capabilities in light of recent geopolitical tensions, including Russia's actions in Europe.

"We need a realistic pathway to ensure all NATO members are hitting the 5% threshold," Rubio stated, acknowledging the domestic challenges many nations face due to social safety nets and other priorities. Still, he argued that the ongoing conflict in Europe proves the necessity of hard power as a deterrent.

While the U.S. already spends 3.38% of its GDP on defense—a staggering $967 billion in 2024—Rubio suggested that even America might need to up its game. This could mean allocating nearly $1.49 trillion for defense in 2025, a figure higher than NATO's total spending of $1.47 trillion in 2024.

Currently, only Poland exceeds the 4% mark, with Estonia, Latvia, Greece, and the United States trailing behind at over 3%. Meanwhile, eight NATO members, including Canada, Italy, and Spain, still haven’t met the existing 2% commitment. Rubio's push for higher spending aligns with growing calls from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and other allies who see increased defense budgets as essential for deterring aggressors like Russia and China.

Addressing concerns about the U.S.'s role in NATO under the Trump administration, Rubio dismissed what he called "hysteria and hyperbole" in media coverage. He reassured allies that the U.S. remains fully committed to NATO, emphasizing the importance of collective defense and shared responsibilities.

Rubio acknowledged the trade-offs involved in prioritizing defense spending, noting that even the U.S. faces domestic challenges. However, he encouraged other NATO nations to follow America's lead in prioritizing security given the alliance's global role.

With Rubio's firm stance and NATO leadership backing the call for increased spending, it seems the era of 2% defense budgets may soon become a thing of the past. Whether NATO members can realistically meet the ambitious 5% target, however, remains to be seen.