Bond.az -- NATO's top military official says the alliance remains on track to meet higher defense spending targets, dismissing concerns about tensions with the United States.
Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of the NATO Military Committee, said European allies have responded to President Trump's calls for increased defense spending and are progressing toward the alliance's long-term goals.
"We have a NATO defense planning process to give us the capability that we need, and we will acquire that in time" to reach total spending of 5% of GDP, Cavo Dragone said at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Despite U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's criticism of European allies, Cavo Dragone emphasized that military cooperation remains stable.
At last year's NATO summit, all members except Spain agreed to allocate 3.5% of GDP to core defense spending and an additional 1.5% to related security measures. Several countries, including Germany, have since accelerated spending commitments.
Cavo Dragone downplayed concerns over Russian drone incursions into allied airspace, including an incident in Romania, saying "NATO should not overreact."
Investors are closely watching defense spending commitments, as higher military budgets are expected to support demand for weapons systems and defense technologies.
