NATO chief notes spending shortfalls

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday that allies must move faster to turn defence spending commitments into military capability as ministers gathered for a two-day meeting in Sweden focused in part on long-term support for Ukraine. NATO said the May 21-22 meeting in Helsingborg will help prepare the alliance’s Ankara summit and include talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. Rutte’s remarks came after he used the launch of his 2025 annual report in March to say allied defence spending and production “must rise rapidly” and that Ukraine must have what it needs “now.” NATO’s latest published spending data said all allies met or exceeded the older 2% of GDP benchmark in 2025, while the alliance is now working toward a broader 5% goal by 2035. ### If all allies cleared 2%, what shortfall is Rutte talking about? NATO’s 2025 annual report said every ally met the 2% target first set in 2014, and three allies had already reached the new 3.5% core-defence objective embedded in the alliance’s 2035 framework. That means the current argument is no longer centered on whether countries hit the old floor, but on how quickly they can deliver the larger commitments agreed at the 2025 Hague summit. (publicnow.com) The Hague declaration said allies committed to invest 5% of GDP annually on defence and security by 2035, with at least 3.5% devoted to core defence requirements and up to 1.5% to broader security-related spending. It also said governments would submit annual plans showing a “credible, incremental path” to that goal. (nato.int) ### What did Rutte say before the Sweden meeting? Rutte said in Brussels on May 20 that “the question is no longer whether we need to do more. The question is how quickly Allies can turn commitments into capabilities,” according to NATO’s readout ahead of the Helsingborg meeting. He called for “steady, sustained increases” in investment and “a credible path” to delivery. (nato.int) NATO said Rutte also tied that push directly to Ukraine, calling continued support for Kyiv another priority for the Ankara summit. The alliance said foreign ministers in Helsingborg would discuss how to ensure support for Ukraine remains “substantial, sustainable and predictable for the long term.” ### Where does Ukraine funding fit into the spending debate? (publicnow.com) Politico reported on May 12 that Rutte had asked allies to consider devoting 0.25% of GDP annually to Ukraine, a proposal the publication said could effectively triple annual flows to Kyiv if approved. Politico said the idea had already met resistance from some major members including France and Britain, citing diplomats and a person familiar with the matter. (publicnow.com) NATO’s own Ukraine support page says allies have provided billions of euros in equipment, supplies, training and other assistance since 2022. NATO has framed that support as part of the alliance’s security effort, and Rutte said in December that support to Ukraine counts toward the new 5% target because it contributes directly to allied security. (politico.eu) ### Why are social-media claims about members “below 2%” out of date? NATO’s March 26 release on Rutte’s annual report said European allies and Canada increased defence spending by 20% from 2024 and that the new data confirmed a major step forward. The same report stated that all allies met or exceeded 2% in 2025. (nato.int) That makes some social-media references to members still being under 2% inconsistent with NATO’s latest published figures. A more accurate description, based on current NATO documents, is that the alliance has moved past the old 2% threshold and is now arguing over the pace and composition of higher spending and over how much more should be earmarked for Ukraine. (nato.int) ### What happens next in Helsingborg and after that? NATO said the May 21-22 foreign ministers’ meeting in Helsingborg is intended to finalize preparations for the Ankara summit. Sybiha is scheduled to join ministers on Thursday for talks on long-term support for Ukraine, while the alliance’s next major benchmark will be the annual national plans tied to the 2035 spending commitment. (publicnow.com) (nato.int)