President Donald Trump has long advocated for NATO allies to ramp up defense spending to between 2% to 5% gross domestic product.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his contention that European countries have been taking advantage of the U.S. by not spending more on defense.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is praising President Donald Trump for motivating fellow transatlantic alliance members to step up defense spending and getting Russia to the negotiating table for talks about its grinding war against Ukraine.