NATO countries are using creative math to meet the U.S. president’s demand to more than double annual spending, partly by expanding what counts beyond soldiers and weapons.

NATO defense ministers are meeting in Brussels to address U.S. President Donald Trumps call for member states to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, up from the current 2% target. The discussions come ahead of the

Trump wants Nato members to raise defence budgets to 5% of their GDP. Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte has proposed a compromise plan, calling for 3.5% dedicated to core military spending by 2032, and an additional 1.