Five per cent NATO spending ‘will happen’, says Pete Hegseth, as UK faces mounting pressure to be ‘combat ready’
by Henry Moore · LBCBy Henry Moore
A boost in defence spending by NATO countries to 5% of GDP “will happen”, the US Defence Secretary has said.
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Speaking from Brussels for a meeting with fellow NATO defence ministers, Pete Hegseth demanded America’s allies be “combat ready” or risk losing US support.
It comes as the UK faces increasing pressure to boost its defence spending beyond the 3% commitment Labour announced earlier this year.
"So, we're here to continue the work that President Trump started, which is a commitment to 5% defence spending across this alliance, which we think will happen," Mr Hegseth said on Thursday.
Head of Nato suggests alliance should look to ‘equalise’ US defence contribution
Currently, the UK spends 2% of GDP on defence, but reports this week suggested Downing Street could be forced to increase this to 3.5% or risk damaging relations with Donald Trump’s White House.
Sir Keir Starmer has said that defence spending will rise to 3% in the next parliament, when the "economic conditions allow" - but hasn't set a date.
Any rise in spending will mean billions of pounds extra have to be found - with the Chancellor already facing financial pressures ahead of the spending review next week.
NATO chief Mark Rutte has piled further pressure on the UK to raise its defence spending, in a bid to get members of the Alliance to “equalise” their spending with the US.
Secretary-general Mark Rutte said allies will find themselves "in great difficulty" in the coming years if they stick with the current 2% GDP alliance spending target.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Rutte said: "The expectation is that on the European side of Nato and the Canadian side of Nato, if we think that we can keep ourselves safe sticking with the 2%, forget it.
"Yes, the next three to five years, but then we are in great difficulty. And the US rightly expects us to spend much more to defend ourselves with their help, but also to equalise, which is only fair with what the US is spending on defence."