During Donald Trump's presidency, he consistently pressured NATO allies to increase their defense spending, emphasizing that many countries were not meeting the alliance's guideline that members spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense. His administration's firm stance and public criticisms were influential in pushing NATO members to commit to higher defense budgets. At the 2018 NATO summit in Brussels, leaders agreed to increase defense spending, with several countries pledging to meet or approach the 2% target in subsequent years. While the agreement to hike defense spending was not solely because of Trump, his pressure played a significant role in accelerating members' commitments to boost their military budgets.
Sources: Based on general knowledge, including reports from the 2018 NATO summit and statements from NATO officials and member states.
