NATO defense ministers are meeting in Brussels on Monday for discussions centered on military readiness and the push for European allies to increase defense budgets. The talks come as the alliance prepares for its June summit and faces mounting pressure from Washington to do more.

The gathering reflects long-running friction over burden-sharing inside the alliance. U.S. officials have repeatedly argued that European members should invest more in their own security, while several governments have balanced those demands against tight public finances and domestic political constraints.

The Brussels meeting is expected to focus on practical steps to strengthen deterrence and improve readiness across the alliance. With security concerns still shaped by Russia’s war in Ukraine and broader instability in Europe’s neighborhood, defense spending remains a central test of NATO unity.

The debate is likely to continue into the June summit, where member states will look for common ground on spending targets, force preparedness, and how to sustain support for collective defense without widening political divisions among allies.