Defense ministers from NATO member countries met in Brussels on Thursday to discuss something very important — how much military equipment and resources each country should have. The meeting was described as a “key” moment by Mark Rutte, the NATO Secretary General.
NATO Ministers Meet in Brussels for Key Defense Talks
He explained that the ministers were expected to make big decisions about what types of military tools and forces the alliance needs. These decisions, known as “capability targets,” will help decide how much money each country should spend on defense in the coming years.
Mark Rutte said, “Today is really key, because we will decide on the capability targets.” These targets include how many air defense systems, long-range missiles, and land forces each country should have. Rutte added that this would also help NATO decide on its long-term budget and make sure countries spend their fair share.
Rutte stressed that NATO countries need to prepare in case there is ever a war. “We must make investments in our air defense systems,” he stated. “Investing in our long-range missiles is imperative. We have to invest in our maneuverable land formations and command and control systems.” This means NATO countries should put money into systems that can protect against enemy attacks, fire weapons over long distances, and manage large groups of soldiers.
He also said that these investments would help balance the money spent by different countries. Right now, the United States spends much more on defense than many other NATO countries. Rutte wants this burden to be distributed more fairly among all nations. He emphasized that defense ministers across the alliance must agree on this shared responsibility.
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The ministers gathered in Brussels with the goal of reaching a joint understanding on these issues. According to Rutte, the cooperation among ministers is crucial to making sure NATO remains strong and ready. Following the meeting, Rutte promised to hold a press conference to discuss the recommendations and the new spending plan in greater detail, outlining how the ministers’ decisions will shape NATO’s future defense priorities.
U.S. Defense Secretary Urges 5% Spending on Defense
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also spoke at the meeting and said every NATO country should spend at least 5% of their national budget on defense. He said this level of spending is needed because of the types of threats the world is facing. Hegseth made it clear that military strength is the best way to prevent wars and keep peace.
“Given the nature of the threat, each nation must contribute at that level of 5%,” he stated. He went on to say that nations remain safe because of their robust armed forces, not only their sense of patriotism. “It can’t be about our favorite flags. It must have to do with our formations. He clarified, “That hard power is what really deters.”
Hegseth also reminded NATO allies that they should not rely too much on the United States. He said peace is maintained through strength and that each country must do its part.
His remarks coincide with a request by the United States for increased assistance from its allies. In the past, many NATO countries have been criticized for not meeting the alliance’s defense spending goals. Hegseth’s call for a 5% target is higher than the current 2% goal that was agreed upon by all NATO members in previous years.
Germany Plans to Increase Its Army Size
At the meeting, Boris Pistorius, the German Defense Minister, also gave a speech. He stated that in order to meet NATO’s increased defense standards, Germany’s military will probably need to increase by 50,000 to 60,000 personnel. Approximately 180,000 German troops are now serving in the country’s military.
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“We anticipate—but this is just a rough estimate, to be clear—that we will require between 50,000 and 60,000 more soldiers in the standing armed forces than we currently have,” Pistorius stated. This means Germany may need to increase its military size by about 30% to meet NATO’s expectations.
He also questioned whether Germany’s new military service rules would be enough in the coming years. This shows that countries are not just thinking about money and equipment, but also about the people needed to operate those systems — a concern shared by several ministers present at the meeting.
Germany’s statement reflects a larger concern within NATO — that many countries might not currently have enough people or resources to meet new defense goals. Ministers across the alliance are now being pushed to assess not just their stockpiles, but also their personnel readiness.
That’s why this meeting in Brussels was seen as so important. It helped all NATO countries, through discussions among their defense ministers, to examine what they have, what they’re missing, and how much more they need to do.
By the end of the meeting, NATO leaders and ministers were expected to agree on a list of capability targets. These targets would act as a checklist for each country to follow. Once those are set, countries will start looking at how to close the gaps in their military strength — whether it’s buying new equipment, hiring more soldiers, or building better command systems.
This meeting is part of NATO’s larger plan to stay strong and prepared. Defense ministers like Rutte, Hegseth, and Pistorius want to make sure NATO is ready for any threat — not just now, but for years to come. For that, they believe strong spending and planning are needed from all member countries.