NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged alliance members to increase their defense spending above their shared target of 2% of GDP, Reuters reports.
This figure was set a decade ago, but is now considered too low due to new challenges from Russia.
Rutte spoke in Lisbon alongside Prime Minister Luiz Montenegro, who reiterated Portugal's pledge to meet its 2% target by 2029. In 2023, the country spent 1.5% of its GDP on its NATO commitments.
"We know that the 2% target set a decade ago will not be enough to meet the challenges of tomorrow," Rutte stressed.
"However, to maintain NATO's strength, we must continue to adapt, and to ensure our security in the future, we must increase our efforts now. This also means that we must spend more on our defense," he added.