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The Prime Minister of Greek Kiriakas Missatakis and German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz (not in the picture) speak to the media after talks on chancellors on May 13, 2025 in Berlin, Germany.
Sean Galop | Getty Images | Gets the image
For NATO members, it would be difficult to set requirements for the defense of US President Donald Trump, Greece Prime Minister CNBC said.
The White House leader often calls for NATO nations to increase their contribution to the security of up to 5% of their gross domestic product – the target questions of Kirakas Mitotakis of Greece can be fulfilled.
“I think 5% honestly is very, very difficult,” he said in an interview with Sylvia Amar CNBC, which was aired “Europe Early edition‘Friday.
“When we talk about tough defense costs, I believe that 3.5% is probably a ceiling … that it can be accepted,” said Mitotakis.
However, he noted that the 5% estimate could be a long -term target if broader costs such as critical infrastructure fall under the cost of the expense.
“So, it really depends on how we are making accounting,” he said.
NATO leader Mark Rutte is reported propose that NATO members should increase protection costs to 3.5% of GDP, while making additional 1.5% to wider security issues.
Many NATO countries have historically fought for a meeting with the target of the Alliance is currently lowering the Trump.
NATO assessment Putting that the United States spent about 3.4% of its GDP for defense in 2024, only two other allies – Poland and Estonia – allocating a large share of their economic force on security during this period.
Poland is also seeking to increase defense costs up to 5% in the coming years, while other countries were more cautious, warning that such costs could be difficult for them.
German Foreign Minister Johann Vadeful also last week recognize that the country supported Trump’s targets. The result of Rute’s proposal was “really 5%, demanded by President Trump that he considers it necessary, and we are monitoring him in this regard,” he said.
The next NATO summit in late June may decide on new protection purposes.
Speaking in front of CNBC, Mitsotakis Greece said Trump was right to demand additional NATO allied protection costs.
“Donald Trump was right when he said in 2017 that you didn’t make your share because we didn’t,” he said. “Now we understand that there is no free lunch and we can’t release.”
Greece itself spent nearly 3.1% of its GDP defense last year, NATO assessment. Athens invariably exceed 2% of the target over the years and began to increase the cost of defense further in 2020 against the background of long tensions with a neighboring turkey on issues, including marine borders.
“We spend more than 3% for very concrete reasons, and we have also very much advocated for changes in European rules to encourage us to be able to spend more,” Mitotakis said, adding that there has been some progress in the field.
The European Union’s fiscal rules have for many years restrict the degree of debt and budget deficit that can be incurred by the member country. Recently, the European Commission has done moving to mitigate financial restrictions under a broader security package.
Speaking with CNBC, Mitsotakis – having Earlier said The European Commission plans may be more ambitious – it is important that it is also important to continue the discussion on the potential European institution to support protection costs.
