Rutte likens Trump to a 'daddy'

NATO LEADERS ON Wednesday backed a big increase in defence spending and restated their commitment to defend each other from attack after a brief summit tailor-made for U.S. President Donald Trump.

- ANDREW GRAY, SABINE SIEBOLD & JEFF MASON

In a statement, NATO endorsed a higher defence spending goal of 5% of GDP by 2035 – a response to a demand by Trump and to Europeans' fears that Russia poses a growing threat to their security following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. "We reaffirm our ironclad commitment to collective defence as enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty – that an attack on one is an attack on all," the statement said, after Trump had sparked concern on Tuesday by saying there were "numerous definitions" of the clause.