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.

Some may ask if Mark Rutte's proposal to deter Russian aggression has at least a little to do with appeasing the US president, writes Jonathan Beale.

European allies and Canada have already been investing heavily in their armed forces, as well as on weapons and ammunition, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.