Donald Trump, the President-elect of the USA, has suggested that NATO countries allocate 5% of their GDP to defense spending. The Spanish newspaper "La Vanguardia" describes this proposal as an "imperial tax" and argues that it aims to boost American arms sales.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized on Thursday in an interview with dpa that he wants to persuade Donald Trump to make it easier for European allies to purchase military equipment from the U.

Ralf Stegner, a member of Germany's Social Democratic Party, called Trump's comments "delusional and truly insane." Poland has backed Trump's demand.