Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
NATO member states should spend more money on defense. Much more. That was the clear message delivered by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte yesterday, Thursday, after the NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels. Belgian media reported today, Friday, that countries that still do not spend 2% of their gross domestic product on defense have until this summer to meet NATO's demands. Now, two-thirds of member states have 2% or more, but Belgium is not one of them. However, the current government of Bart De Wever in its coalition agreement intends to complete this by 2029, but according to the NATO Secretary General, this deadline is too late.
It is not clear whether the current government in Belgium will change course immediately after the NATO ministers' meeting. "I understand that a request will come from NATO to reach that 2 percent faster. We will discuss this in the government," Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken (New Flemish Party) told the Belgian Press Agency.
According to a statement issued by the alliance's headquarters in Brussels, NATO defence ministers concluded their meeting in the Belgian capital yesterday (February 13, 2025), in preparation for the next NATO summit in The Hague in June. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed his shock and sadness at what appears to be a deliberate attack in Munich, in which several people were injured.
Rutte also expressed his pleasure at welcoming the new US Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, to his first meeting with NATO. "Minister Hegseth came with a clear message. About America's enduring commitment to a strong NATO alliance. America’s clear expectation is that all Allies will bear their fair share of the burden.”

The ministers discussed progress in strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence and the robust defence plans that all Allies have agreed to. “To ensure that we are fully prepared to implement these plans, we need more military capabilities, and for that we need significantly more defence spending,” Mr. Rutte stressed. “It is clear from our discussions today that Allies recognize the need to invest much more,” he added.

He noted that since 2014, European Allies and Canada have added more than US$700 billion to their defence budgets. In 2024 alone, investment by non-US Allies will reach US$485 billion, a 20% increase from the previous year, with two-thirds of Allies now spending at least 2% of GDP on defence. The Secretary-General expects further increases in 2025, acknowledging the progress made but highlighting the need for continued efforts.

The defence ministers also discussed strengthening the defence industrial base on both sides of the Atlantic, with Recognizing the need for a wartime mindset to ensure credible deterrence and defense in the face of growing security challenges.

At the NATO-Ukraine Council session with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustam Umarov, the Allies discussed the importance of continued support for Ukraine, “which is crucial to bring this brutal war of aggression to a just and lasting end.” While NATO pledged €40 billion to Ukraine in 2024 at the Washington Summit, actual security assistance provided has exceeded expectations, reaching over €50 billion, with nearly 60% of that coming from Europe and Canada.

“All of this sends a clear signal that Europe and Canada are shouldering a greater share of the transatlantic burden-sharing,” Rutte concluded.