Recently, U.S. Vice President Pence and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth emphasized that NATO member countries must significantly increase defense spending from the current 2% of GDP to 5%. This is a claim reiterated by President Donald Trump after his re-election, aimed at ensuring greater accountability for European security. The need for NATO's defense spending to reach an appropriate level is becoming more pronounced, especially in light of the security threats currently facing Europe.

Vice President Pence warned that democracy cannot survive if it ignores the voices of the people, stating, "Democracy should not fear or exclude the opinions of voters, but must listen to their voices." He criticized the exclusion of far-right parties in European politics, pointing out that "ignoring voters' opinions and controlling the media is a path that threatens democracy." He particularly criticized the German political establishment for blocking cooperation with the far-right party 'Alternative for Germany (AfD)'. Pence warned that "the outdated elite is trying to justify censorship using old terms like 'false information' or 'misinformation'."

Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth pressured NATO member countries to increase defense spending. At a NATO meeting in Stuttgart, Germany, Hegseth stated, "NATO members' defense spending is currently close to 2% of GDP, but President Trump's view is that it should be raised to 5%," expressing his support for this. He argued that excessive reliance on America's 'security umbrella' hinders Europe's security policy and emphasized that European countries need to enhance their own defense capabilities.

This demand for increased defense spending could pose a significant burden on European countries. The Washington Post reported that "in light of Trump's tariff threats, European countries find it difficult to hastily increase defense spending," noting that while many European countries are inclined to pursue increased defense spending, they are contemplating how to actually allocate their budgets.

Bloomberg Economics estimates that if the Russia-Ukraine war ends, at least $3.1 trillion will be needed for Ukraine's reconstruction and the strengthening of European countries' defense capabilities. This represents a massive cost that European countries will have to bear over the next decade, making the increase in defense spending a critical topic of discussion.

According to a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), global defense spending reached approximately $2.46 trillion last year, a 7.4% increase, marking the highest level ever. However, the average percentage of defense spending relative to GDP across countries was only 1.9%. In Russia, defense spending surged to 6.7% of GDP, amounting to 13.1 trillion rubles (approximately $200 billion), while the U.S. spent $968 billion, or 3.4% of GDP, on defense.

In this context, Trump's proposed goal of a 5% increase is viewed as a challenging target to achieve in the short term. European countries must consider economic realities and political conditions while pursuing increased defense spending. Ultimately, whether NATO increases defense spending will likely depend on future policy changes in European countries and ongoing pressure from the United States.