European Council President: NATO’s European members ready to increase defense spending

The 23 EU member states that are also members of NATO are ready to increase their defense spending beyond the 2 percent of gross domestic product target, European Council President Antonio Costa said.

According to Costa, the countries will decide on the budget increase at the NATO summit in June.

He also announced that an informal meeting of EU leaders will be held next Monday to review investment in security and defense.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also attend the meeting, according to Reuters.