NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on European allies to increase defense spending ahead of next month’s summit, warning that Washington’s patience with low contributions is fading. His remarks add pressure on member states already facing budget strains and competing domestic priorities.

Rutte’s appeal reflects a long-running dispute inside the alliance over how to share the burden of collective security. U.S. officials have repeatedly argued that European governments should commit more resources to their militaries, especially as wars and instability continue to shape the security environment.

The issue is expected to feature prominently at the upcoming summit, where allies will be under pressure to show progress on spending commitments. For European leaders, the challenge is balancing defense demands with public spending, inflation concerns, and political resistance at home.

While NATO members remain united on the need to deter aggression, the debate over who pays for that effort continues to test transatlantic relations. The summit will likely serve as a key moment to gauge whether allies can narrow the gap between policy promises and actual military investment.