NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte commended Germany for increasing its defense spending to comply with NATO standards but stressed the need for further investment. Following a meeting with Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin, Rutte noted that Germany’s defense budget now represents around 2% of its GDP, equating to approximately €90.6 billion. He acknowledged the challenges of funding national defense and support to Ukraine but emphasized that both are crucial for collective security. Scholz affirmed his commitment to continue raising defense allocations, mentioning that Germany’s spending has doubled over the past seven years.