NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Monday the alliance's military capability targets may require members to spend as much as 3.7% of GDP on defence but this figure could be reduced with innovation and joint procurement.

Nato asks every member country to spend at least 2% of national income - also known as GDP - on defence. It is thought that 23 countries met that target in 2024, compared to only three in 2014. The countries which spend the largest share of GDP on defence are the US and those close to Russia, such as Poland and the Baltic states.

Ralf Stegner, a member of Germany's Social Democratic Party, called Trump's comments "delusional and truly insane." Poland has backed Trump's demand.

If not Europeans should "get out your Russian language courses or go to New Zealand," he said. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told members of the security alliance to boost defense spending or prepare to learn Russian.

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte, warns of growing threats from Russia and its allies. During the NATO Military Committee meeting in Brussels, he emphasized the need to increase defence spending to ensure future security.

A push for increased defence spending among NATO members will be a key point at an upcoming summit to be held later this year, Baltic states defence ministers said Wednesday. "For the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague we (Lithuania) advocate that three percent of GDP for investment is the bottom line,