Lithuanian President Nauseda warns NATO could split if European defense spending falls short

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said NATO may divide into two or three parts unless European members raise defence spending to the alliance’s 5 % of GDP target. He made the remark in Berlin during a joint press conference with the leaders of Latvia and Estonia and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Ankara.

Nauseda pointed out that while NATO allies (except Spain) agreed at last year’s summit in The Hague to reach the 5 % goal by 2035, most European countries are still far below the benchmark, with many spending only 2–2.5 % of GDP. Merz highlighted Germany’s “massive effort” to double its defence budget over four years and to meet the target by 2029.

The warning comes amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of European defence budgets on social media, calling them “laughable.” Polish officials also stressed the need for trans‑Atlantic unity ahead of the Ankara meeting.