‘Paying Their Own Bills’: Impressed By Spending Hike, Trump Says NATO No More Obsolete

Last Updated:July 15, 2025, 21:59 IST

US President Donald Trump appeared impressed by NATO members’ steps to increase defence spending.

US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte gather for photo during a NATO leaders summit in The Hague, Netherlands. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday appeared impressed by NATO’s initiative to increase its military spending. “NATO is now becoming the opposite of obsolete," the US President said during an interview with BBC News.

“I do think it was in the past and it was very unfair because the United States paid for almost 100% of it," he told the broadcaster. “But now they’re paying their own bills, and I think that’s much better".

“United in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long- term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security and the persistent threat of terrorism, Allies commit to invest 5% of GDP annually on core defence requirements as well as defence-and security-related spending by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective obligations," said a joint declaration out of NATO, following the NATO Summit last month.

Meanwhile, NATO chief Mark Rutte was in White House on Monday where he held an important meeting with Donald Trump and highly placed officials of the American defence sector.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

News world ‘Paying Their Own Bills’: Impressed By Spending Hike, Trump Says NATO No More Obsolete