Donald Trump has frequently spoken about the need for NATO allies to increase the amount they spend on defense.

The EU needs to rethink its spending priorities to boost defense budgets, NATO's new Secretary-General Mark Rutte told the European Parliament on Monday.

Europe is seeing a dramatic boost in defense budgets, driven by both long-standing pressure from Washington and the continent’s own reaction to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That promises a glut of military contracts for weapons-makers in Europe as well as in the U.S., South Korea and elsewhere.

BRATISLAVA - Slovak political scientists have warned of a dangerous shift in public discourse after Smer MP Tibor Gašpar hinted at the possibility of Slovakia leaving the EU and received support from fellow party member and Prime Minister Robert Fico.

(Reuters) - 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 boss Mark Rutte said Trump "has been right many times" and played it cool when grilled by members of the European Parliament on the president-elect's Greenland plans.

The Vice-Chair of the Slovak Parliament, Tibor Gašpar, a close associate of Prime Minister Robert Fico, suggested on Friday evening on the state television channel STVR that Slovakia might consider leaving the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said members have to boost spending. 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 has stressed in his conversation with European Parliament members that he believes defence spending at a level of 2% is insufficient to ensure the safety of allies in the next four to five years.

The Vice-Chair of the Slovak Parliament, Tibor Gašpar, one of Prime Minister Robert Fico's closest associates, admitted on Friday evening on the state television station STVR that the country might consider exiting the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

NATO and its eight Baltic Sea allies say they are stepping up efforts to deter 'any attempts at sabotage' in the wake of a series of incidents that have damaged key undersea power and telecommunications cables.

The head of NATO, Mark Rutte is urging EU countries to increase defense spending beyond 2% of GDP. During a debate in the European Parliament, he stressed that current allocations might not suffice in the future.