Nato spending is at “unprecedented” levels, the alliance’s chief said on Wednesday, after Donald Trump raised doubts about its future.
Jens Stoltenberg said 18 of the alliance’s 31 members were on track to hit the minimum spending goal of 2 per cent of gross domestic product.
The group includes Germany, Europe’s largest economy, which is set to reach the target this year for the first time.
It means European Nato member states will be spending a record $380 billion (£302 billion).
But France is not expected to hit the 2 per cent level until 2025, as part of its plan to bolster defence spending in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The announcement comes after Donald Trump, the bookmakers’ favourite in the race for the White House, said he would encourage Russia to attack Nato allies that did not meet the target.
“We have to listen and take note of the following: the criticism that we hear is not primarily about Nato. It’s about Nato Allies not spending enough,” Mr Stoltenberg told reporters at the start of a two-day meeting of the alliance’s defence ministers.
He added: “And that’s a valid point… European Allies and Canada have to spend more, because we haven’t seen fair burden-sharing in the Alliance.”
Mr Stoltenberg said the 13 allies not meeting the goal would have to continue increasing their spending.
Promises of increased defence expenditure rose from member states following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, amid growing fears the war could spill over into Europe.
It ushered in an “unprecedented rise of 11 per cent”, Nato’s secretary general said.
In 2014, when the spending target was set at a summit in Cardiff, just three countries reached the goal – Britain, the US and Greece.
After Mr Trump’s outburst at a campaign rally on Feb 10, Nato diplomats acknowledged the only way to ensure his support if he wins the presidency for a second time is to continue to increase spending.
The former US president has previously threatened to withdraw America from the alliance if its European members don’t do more to protect themselves.
If he wins the White House race, the alliance will increase its focus on the threats posed by China and terrorism to manage his opposition, one source said.
Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte, who will retire from domestic office when a new government is formed, is seen as a crucial part of managing Mr Trump’s potential return to power.
Britain, Germany and the US have privately voiced their backing for Mr Rutte to become the next secretary general of Nato, sources told the Telegraph.
Internally, only Hungary and Turkey are seen as potential opponents, but don’t pose an insurmountable challenge, the insiders added.
Mr Rutte is seen as experienced enough on the world stage, having held office in the Netherlands for more than a decade.
The alliance had previously expressed a desire to recruit a female secretary general, but it is now believed a man has a better chance standing up against what is perceived as Mr Trump’s misogyny.
The Netherlands also uses a host of US-developed weapon systems, including the F-35 fighter jet and Patriot air-defence missile system, which will maintain the transatlantic bond.
Mr Rutte is also seen as the strongest candidate, given his reluctance to match French President Emmanuel Macron’s calls for a more autonomous European Union defence infrastructure, which relies less on Nato and Washington.
