Donald Trump could skip NATO summit if other members do not act on 'burden-sharing'

Donald Trump could miss out on the upcoming NATO summit if other members fail to take action against burden-sharing, according to reports.

The President has threatened to become a no-show unless something is done about spending. It comes as Germany faced pressure to increase its defense spending.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed the issue with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius last week.

On April 25, Secretary General Mark Rutte wrapped up his visit to the United States. He met with Trump and other senior officials at the White House.

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During his time in the states, he met with the Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

He revealed that they mainly discussed the upcoming summit in The Hague. The Secretary General further addressed the major increase in defence spending from European Allies and Canada.

He stated: “This is necessary to make sure that we stay safe. So this is really a NATO which is stronger, which is fairer, which is also more lethal in terms of being able to defend NATO territory."

Rutte stated that they also spoke about the need to end the war in . It comes after Trump has repeatedly called for peace, with urging to consider a ceasefire.

Trump has previously expressed frustration over the slow pace of progress in negotiations aimed at stopping the war, which he said he could end in the first 24 hours of his new administration in January.

Western European leaders have accused Russian President of stalling while his forces seek to grab more Ukrainian land.

Senior US officials have warned that the administration could abandon the peace efforts if it sees no solution. That could spell an end to crucial military help for Ukraine and heavier economic sanctions on Russia.

On Tuesday, the US State Department tried again to push both sides to move more quickly. Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce quoted US secretary of state Marco Rubio as telling her: “We are now at a time where concrete proposals need to be delivered by the two parties on how to end this conflict.

“How we proceed from here is a decision that belongs now to the president,” she told reporters, relating a conversation that she had with Mr Rubio. “If there is not progress, we will step back as mediators in this process.”