BRUSSELS, Feb 14, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will on
Wednesday detail increased defence spending by members of the alliance,
rattled after Donald Trump threatened to encourage Russia to attack countries
paying too little.

The Republican White House frontrunner was widely rebuked after saying he
would not defend NATO members who had not met their financial obligations, in
his most extreme broadside yet against the organisation.

Trump's comments in a Saturday stump speech drew condemnation from leaders
including US President Joe Biden -- whom he looks set to face in November's
election -- and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Scholz warned that casting doubt on NATO's collective defence guarantee which
has safeguarded Europe since World War II was "irresponsible and dangerous".

Ahead of a meeting of defence ministers, Stoltenberg is due to unveil new
estimates showing the number of NATO allies reaching the military spending
target of two percent of GDP has almost doubled since last year.

Officials told AFP that around 20 of the alliance's 31 members are expected
to hit the target, up from just 11 in 2023.

NATO in 2014 set a target for members to spend two percent of their gross
domestic product on defence in response to Russia's seizure of Crimea from
Ukraine.

During his time as president, Trump railed against Washington's NATO allies
to pressure them to spend more on defence -- and he has claimed credit for
increased spending.

Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 served as a wake-up call for
European countries and saw NATO turn the two-percent figure into a minimum
requirement.

Key players such as Germany have ramped up their defence spending and are
expected to meet the target this year.

But the US still accounts for the vast bulk of combined defence spending by
NATO members.

- Ukraine support -

Trump's broadside against US allies has raised the nightmarish spectre for
European officials of Washington tanking the 75-year-old alliance if he is
re-elected.

It comes as warnings swirl that Russian President Vladimir Putin could look
to target alliance members if Ukraine loses the war.

Stoltenberg said any suggestions that allies won't defend each other
"undermines all of our security" and puts US and European soldiers at greater
risk.

France said Europe needs another "life insurance" policy in addition to NATO
to ensure the security of the continent.

Diplomats from multiple NATO countries counter that keeping the United States
on board remains fundamental to deterring the threat from Russia.

But they also remain sanguine about how genuine Trump's threats are, arguing
the alliance emerged from his first term unscathed.

While there is a focus on NATO's own defence spending, the pressing issue of
support for Ukraine will also be on the table at the meeting on Wednesday.

US ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith on Tuesday pointed out that Europe has
now surpassed the United States in its backing for Kyiv.

The US Senate on Tuesday approved long-delayed funding for Ukraine's war
effort, but the package looks set to be rejected by the Republican-led lower
house.

Doubts over the future of US aid come as Ukraine's forces find themselves
outgunned in the face of a slow-moving Russian advance along the front line.

The meeting to rally more support for Kyiv was meant to be chaired in person
by US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin but he was forced to cancel his trip to
Brussels after being hospitalised.