Hegseth confident Nato will meet defence target

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said yesterday he was confident that members of the Nato alliance will sign up to Donald Trump's demand for a major boost in defence spending, adding that it had to happen by a summit later in June.

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The US president has said Nato allies should boost investment in defence to 5% of gross domestic product, up from the current target of 2%.

"To be an alliance, you got to be more than flags. You got to be formations. You got to be more than conferences. You need to be, keep combat ready capabilities," Mr Hegseth said as he arrived at a gathering of Nato defence ministers in Brussels.

"We're here to continue the work that President Trump started, which is a commitment to 5% defence spending across this alliance, which we think will happen," Mr Hegseth said, adding: "It has to happen by the summit at The Hague later this month."