Britain's top diplomat says Europe’s security “is on a knife-edge” and President-elect Donald Trump is right to say NATO member nations must increase military spending.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Thursday that he is working to persuade US President-elect Donald Trump to ease access for European partners to US weapons systems. Rutte told dpa that European allies are already investing hundreds of billions of dollars in the US defence industry.

With Russia on the march and the end of post-Cold War peace, David Lammy has argued that Europe’s defence spending must rise. The foreign secretary said for the UK to be “taken seriously… we must put our money where our mouth is” in his first major speech of 2025.

Even before being sworn in, Donald Trump has harshly criticized European NATO countries. He has also altered his stance on ending the conflict in Ukraine, suggesting he could achieve it within half a year,

US President-elect Donald Trump said that NATO countries should be spending 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence, up from the current 2% target. "They can all afford it, but they should be at 5% not 2%,

Even before being sworn in, Donald Trump harshly criticised European NATO countries. He also changed his stance on ending the conflict in Ukraine, suggesting he could achieve it within half a year, not in 24 hours as he previously claimed.

European NATO members would struggle to increase defense spending to 5% considering the high social welfare bill in the continent. But analysts say Trump's demand could be a negotiating tactic to reach a compromise.

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday urged NATO members to increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP. Donald Trump continues to hammer home his claims that these countries pay too little to be protected by the US.