The Trump administration has delivered a blunt ultimatum to NATO allies, with reports indicating President Donald Trump may boycott the alliance’s June summit unless European members agree to radically increase defense spending. According to confidential German documents obtained by Der Spiegel, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker has demanded European nations commit to spending 5% of GDP on defense – more than double the current 2% benchmark established in 2014.
This hardline position was reinforced during recent high-level discussions, including a phone call between U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius. Pentagon readouts reveal Hegseth insisted European allies must assume primary responsibility for continental defense and immediately implement spending increases. The administration’s frustration was further articulated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who characterized current NATO arrangements as the United States carrying “a bunch of junior partners that aren’t doing their fair share.”
The threatened summit boycott follows months of escalating rhetoric from Trump about NATO burden-sharing. Last month, the president hinted at possible withdrawal of the 84,000 U.S. troops stationed in Europe, complaining that American taxpayers unfairly subsidize European security without proper reimbursement. Hegseth has echoed this sentiment, declaring the era of U.S.-guaranteed European security over and demanding allies rapidly expand their military capabilities.
While 23 of NATO’s 32 members now meet the 2% spending target – a significant increase from just a decade ago – the administration dismisses this as insufficient. The U.S. currently spends approximately 3.5% of its GDP on defense and remains the alliance’s dominant financial and military contributor. European officials privately express concerns about the political and economic feasibility of the 5% demand, particularly for nations still recovering from pandemic-related fiscal strains.
