Whitaker tells senators NATO must do more; proposes 5% GDP defense target for allies
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Summary
Matthew Whitaker, the nominee for U.S. permanent representative to NATO, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that NATO remains vital but allies must increase defense spending and modernize forces; he urged a minimum 5% of GDP defense spending target and pledged to press allies on interoperability and production.
Matthew Whitaker, appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as the president’s nominee to be the U.S. permanent representative to NATO, framed his mission as driving allied commitment to higher defense spending and increased production and recruitment.
Whitaker told the committee that NATO is “more than ever relevant” and warned that U.S. taxpayers “cannot continue to foot Europe's bill without dramatic investment from Europe.” He proposed a contentious benchmark during his testimony, saying allies “must first commit to spending at least 5% of their GDP on defense with no exceptions, no excuses.” During questioning he repeated the need for allies to improve modernization, interoperability and readiness.
Committee members tested Whitaker on Article 5 and U.S. force posture. On whether U.S. commitments under NATO and Article 5 would remain firm, Whitaker said the U.S. commitment would be “ironclad” if he were confirmed. He also told senators he planned to travel to meet each ally “one‑on‑one” within his first 30 days to assess their plans for meeting increased defense targets.
Broader context
Senators tied the NATO discussion to other issues at the hearing: Russia’s war in Ukraine, Europe’s energy security and the need to deter China’s expanding global influence. Several senators noted some NATO members had increased spending since 2022 while others remained below older 2% commitments; Whitaker and multiple senators agreed the alliance needs not only higher spending but better allocation of funds toward modernization and hybrid threats such as cyber and space.
Direct quotes
- Whitaker: “That is why our NATO allies must first commit to spending at least 5% of their GDP on defense with no exceptions, no excuses.” - Whitaker on Article 5: “It will be ironclad.”
What happens next
The committee will review written materials and questions for the record; Whitaker said he would report back to the committee after consultations with allies. His proposals on a 5% spending floor will require buy‑in from European partners and remain the subject of debate among senators who agreed on the need for greater allied burden‑sharing but differed on feasibility and implementation.