Part 8/12:
These developments come amid shifting US strategic priorities, with leadership increasingly emphasizing the importance of European and regional security. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has issued stark warnings about Europe's need to bolster its own defenses, especially as US commitments may not always be guaranteed. At a NATO summit in the Netherlands this June, alliance members are expected to agree on raising defense spending and modernizing military capabilities, with some leaders calling for spending beyond the current 2% GDP target—possibly aiming for 3% or more.