During an interview at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue, Dutch Deputy Prime Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius affirmed the legitimacy of the U.S. urging NATO allies to enhance their defense budgets. She highlighted that the Netherlands, which currently allocates about 2.2% of its GDP to defense, is committed to meeting the NATO target of 5% set during the Hague summit.
Yesilgoz noted a significant shift in public opinion towards supporting increased defense spending since the Ukraine conflict began, stating that it is crucial for every NATO member to contribute adequately to collective defense. U.S.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth echoed this sentiment, criticizing European nations for their previous lack of investment in defense and asserting that the U.S. would no longer subsidize their security.
Yesilgoz's remarks underscore the growing recognition among NATO countries of the need for enhanced military readiness and the shared responsibility of defense spending, which could have implications for defense contractors and the broader security landscape in Europe