NATO chief hails record defense spending in Canada, Europe, warns Trump's remarks undermine security

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump for undermining the transatlantic alliance on multiple occasions. In 2014, NATO leaders pledged to increase defense spending to reach two percent of their gross domestic product within a decade in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. As of this year, a record 18 NATO member countries will meet this target, up from 11 in the previous year. Notably, Germany is expected to reach this threshold for the first time in decades. Trump had previously caused controversy by stating that he would not protect any NATO member that had failed to meet the two percent defense spending commitment.