More than half of NATO countries hit defense spending target

BRUSSELS — NATO 's secretary general praised the 18 countries that are on track to reach the 2 percent of GDP target on defense spending, and called on the 13 others to help achieve a "fair" burden sharing with the U.S.

"That is another record number, and a six-fold increase from 2014, when only three allies met the target," `Jens Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of a meeting of NATO defense ministers.

In remarks made last week, former U.S. president and current candidate Donald Trump warned he wouldn't protect countries failing to meet the defense spending target of 2 percent of GDP if they're attacked. He also threatened he would encourage Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to those countries.

Stoltenberg added: "The criticism that we hear is not primarily about NATO, it's about NATO allies not spending enough on NATO. And that's a valid point."

He also called on Europe and Canada to do more amid Trump's threat to encourage Russia to attack allies.

"That's a point and a message that has been conveyed by successive U.S. administrations, that Europeans and Canada have to spend more, because we haven't seen fair burden sharing in the alliance."