Blinken-Stoltenberg Joint Press Conference Underway Shortly

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is shortly due to hold a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Department of State. LIVESTREAM

• The meeting follows a White House bilat between Stoltenberg and President Biden yesterday to discuss preparations for the NATO leaders summit July 9-11 in Washington, D.C.
• Stoltenberg announced that over 23 of the 32 NATO members are on track to meet the alliances’ two-percent defence spending target this year, a significant increase from the 18 which were projected earlier this year.
• Politico notes: "Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey are among those that reached the 2 percent figure for the first time."
• The White House said in a readout: “President Biden and Secretary General Stoltenberg also discussed significant progress on defense spending, including that a record 23 Allies will reach NATO’s two percent spending threshold, a more than two-fold increase since President Biden took office.”
• Former President Donald Trump may claim credit for the NATO funding boost, following statements in February warning that a Trump administration could not assure the defence of NATO member that don’t meet with 2% benchmark.