Emmanuel Macron calls for Europe to boost defense spending following Trump-Zelensky clash

Published March 3, 2025 12:00pm ET



French President Emmanuel Macron urged European countries to increase their defense spending in light of President Donald Trump’s decision to move focus away from the continent and the U.S. president’s recent spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Macron urged European leaders to increase their defense spending to at least 3% of their GDP, a significant increase from the current 2% minimum benchmark for every member of the NATO alliance. Trump has called for all members of the alliance to reach at least 5% of defense spending.

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