United States defence secretary Jim Mattis has warned NATO allies the Trump Administration will "moderate" its support if member countries do not increase their own defence spending.
The new Pentagon chief says NATO must adopt a plan this year that sets milestone dates for governments to meet a military funding goal of 2 per cent of Gross Domestic Product.
Nervous NATO members were meeting in Brussels to seek reassurance from the Trump Administration about the United States' commitment to the transatlantic alliance.
At the meeting, European leaders have received some soothing words from President Trump's defence secretary, Jim Mattis.
NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance is strong.
He says European countries have increased their defence spending in recent years by as much as $10 billion annually.
