NATO defence ministers have inched toward meeting U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand that members of the Western military alliance invest five per cent of their gross domestic product in their militaries and related defence infrastructure.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Thursday he was confident that members of the NATO alliance would sign up to Donald Trump's demand for a major boost in defence spending, adding that it had to happen by a summit later in June.

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