Europe's top NATO members have pledged to increase their defense commitment and reaffirm their alliance with the US. This public affirmation came after defense ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Britain met for talks in Paris.
What happened
The joint statement emphasized the importance of a strong Europe within a strong NATO, with the US as an indispensable ally. The ministers agreed to work together to implement this ambition, with continued US engagement in European security being essential to a credible NATO.
The meeting was attended by European foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who stressed the need to modernize forces and capabilities to build a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO. French minister Catherine Vautrin revealed that the key five countries will work together towards this goal through a coordinated plan developed in full transparency with Washington.
The US is the largest contributor to NATO's military spending, accounting for over $1 trillion of the combined $1.8 trillion spent by all member states. The other 31 member states combined spent approximately $777 billion on defense.
