U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday (June 5) he was confident that members of the NATO alliance would sign up to Donald Trump's demand for a major boost in defence spending, adding that it had to happen by a summit later in June.

The U.S. president has said NATO allies should boost investment in defence to 5% of gross domestic product, up from the current target of 2%.

"I'm very encouraged by what we heard in there," Hesgseth said after NATO defence ministers discussed this on Thursday in Brussels. "Countries in there are well exceeding 2% and we think very close, almost near consensus, on a 5% commitment to NATO."

As he arrived at the NATO gathering earlier in the day, Hegseth said such a commitment by all NATO members to spend 5% of GDP on defence had to happen by the June 24-25 summit of NATO leaders.

Diplomats have said European allies understand that hiking defence expenditure is the price of ensuring a continued U.S. commitment to the continent's security and that keeping the U.S. on board means allowing Trump to be able to declare a win on his 5% demand during the Hague summit.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JUNE 5, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH WALKING

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH SAYING:

"Here we are in countries in there are well exceeding 2% and we think very close, almost near consensus on a 5% commitment for NATO in The Hague later this month. There are a few countries that are not quite there yet. I won't name any names. We don't, it's amongst friends in that room. We'll get them there."

3. WHITE FLASH

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH SAYING:

"We need our allies here in Europe and in Canada to step up even more, to step up and take the lead to recognize the defence of the continent is a core mission, so 5% is our message and we will deliver that. President Trump at The Hague at the summit -- it's been his commitment and I believe our allies will step up and do that for real capabilities."

5. JOURNALIST

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH SAYING:

"You got to spend to have hard power oftentimes, you can't really have both."

JOURNALIST ASKING "Is three percent enough?"

HEGSETH REPLYING: "Each country is going to make that determination. But this alliance, we believe in a matter of weeks, will be committing to 5%, 3.5% in hard military and 1.5% in infrastructure and defence related activities. That combination constitutes a real commitment, and we think every country can step up."

7. HEGSETH WALKING AWAY