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 set to approve plans to buy more weapons and military equipment to better defend Europe, the Arctic and North Atlantic.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Thursday that NATO allies were close to a deal on spending ahead of a summit later this month, in a bid to satisfy US President Donald Trump's demand that it reach five percent of GDP.