Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered the message as he met ministers from the military alliance in Brussels.

Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte warned that the current target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence is no longer sustainable after very public criticism from Donald Trump.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered the message as he met ministers from the military alliance in Brussels.

Hegseth has been crusading to get partners in Europe to shoulder more of the financial burden as the US recalibrates its focus towards China .