NATO leaders reached a historic agreement last week to significantly increase defense spending, following strong pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump. The 32-member alliance voiced an "ironclad commitment" to mutual defense in the event of an attack, reaffirming its core collective security principle.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday that Moscow planned to cut its defence spending, but that he thought a decision by NATO members to increase their own defence spending could ultimately lead to the alliance's collapse.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned last month that Moscow could be prepared to use force against the alliance “within five years.” “Let’s not deceive ourselves — we are all now on the eastern flank,