Countries that fail to meet their financial obligations to NATO risk losing US support.
Pentagon chief criticised allies who had imposed restrictions on military aid to the United States during the war with Iran. He warned that some countries would fail the test and could be left without a contingent of American troops.
Without naming these countries, Hegset rebuked them for believing they could continue to ‘get a free ride’, referring to their insufficient investment in defence capabilities.
US notes that some NATO members have failed to present a clear plan to increase their defence budgets to 5 per cent of GDP, of which 3.5 per cent must go directly to the armed forces and a further 1.5 per cent to strategic infrastructure.