European allies boost defense spending, most still miss NATO's U.S.-backed goal

By Robin Emmott BRUSSELS (Reuters) - NATO's European allies spent more on defense for the third year running in 2017 but their outlays failed to lift more countries above a target sought by the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded allies dedicate 2 percent of national economic output on defense every year and has sought to keep up the pressure by calling that target, agreed at a NATO summit in 2014, a "bare minimum." NATO's 2017 annual report showed Estonia, Greece, Poland and Britain met the 2 percent goal, the same group as in 2016, although alliance officials say Latvia, Lithuania and Romania will join them in 2018. NATO has 29 member states in total.

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