NATO defence ministers have inched toward meeting U.S. President Donald Trump's demand that members of the Western military alliance invest five per cent of their gross domestic product in their militaries and related defence infrastructure.

Some may ask if Mark Rutte's proposal to deter Russian aggression has at least a little to do with appeasing the US president, writes Jonathan Beale.

NATO countries are using creative math to meet the U.S. president’s demand to more than double annual spending, partly by expanding what counts beyond soldiers and weapons.