Rama manipulated NATO spending/ Dutch newspaper's 'bombshell': US warns of punishment, summit in danger

Three NATO countries are spending less on their defense than agreed upon, NATO sources say, after reviewing data. The Czech Republic, Slovenia and Albania are found to have failed to meet the minimum agreed upon last year, while they should already be working towards a much higher defense budget.

NATO happily announced in March that all member states had spent 2 percent of their gross domestic product (the size of their economy) on defense last year.

During the summit in The Hague last summer, NATO leader Mark Rutte had put great pressure on the negligent countries that, after much

years to reach that promised minimum limit. Otherwise, they, as well as NATO as a whole, could face the wrath of US President Donald Trump.

Some poor NATO countries struggled to meet the 2 percent target and appeared to have succeeded. But a NATO review of documents showed that three countries still fell short of the target, a senior official said.

For example, they included in the calculation expenses that are not allowed to be counted. Albania and Slovenia in particular, according to a NATO source, had a poor result and finished about half a percentage point lower.

These three countries also risk not reaching 2 percent again this year, informed sources say, and there are also concerns about Hungary.

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatens to punish allies that fall behind, as well as NATO itself, if they continue to neglect their obligations.

The US would like to reduce its contribution, which funds, for example, headquarters, missions and exercises. It currently covers 15 percent of NATO's budget.

Albania may even fear that it will no longer be allowed to host the next NATO summit, well-informed sources say.

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