"NATO Allies Address Defense Spending Criticism Amid Trump Administration Spin"
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg acknowledges the criticism of some members underfinancing the coalition's defense budget, with a record 18 allies expected to meet their military spending goal this year. This follows controversial remarks from former U.S. president Donald Trump, who questioned protecting NATO nations not meeting their membership payments. Stoltenberg emphasizes the importance of fair burden sharing and notes the progress made by allies in increasing defense spending, while highlighting that some still have room for improvement. The coalition's spending has surged since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with recent aid packages for Kyiv and ongoing discussions in the U.S. Senate for further funding.