(DCNF)—European NATO countries are feeling the heat from Washington to increase their defense spending, and they may be inclined to give President Donald Trump what he wants, according to Bloomberg News.
NATO is preparing to host a summit later in June to discuss how to increase their defense spending as the Trump administration pushes Europe to pull its own weight in the defense of the continent, Bloomberg reported. In 2024, 22 NATO members were projected to meet the standard 2% of GDP defense spending target, but the Trump administration is now pushing for 5%, a figure which Europe may be prepared to agree to given pressures like the war in Ukraine.
“Let me cut to the core of our message: 5%,” U.S. ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker told reporters in Brussels, according to Bloomberg. “This is not going to be just a pledge, it’s going to be a commitment.”
In 2024, the nations that fell below the 2% threshold were Croatia, Portugal, Italy, Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia and Spain, according to the Atlantic Council. The current 5% figure is split up into 3.5% of GDP spent on typical defense expenditures and 1.5% spending on security-related projects, like cyber warfare and intelligence, according to Reuters.
“I don’t really care how much they spend. It could be 5%, it could be 10%, it could be 2o%,” Jennifer Kavanaugh, director of military analysis at Defense Priorities, told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “My view is that the goal should be self-sufficiency, and that the administration, instead of focusing on this 5% target, should be pushing Europe to think about what it needs to defend itself on its own, and be less involved in the specifics of what that entails.”
Kavanaugh believes that while the specifics need to be worked out during talks, Europe certainly has to spend more if it hopes to be able to stand alone and stop relying on the U.S.
“They do need more, but I still think it’s the right way to go about it,” Kavanaugh told the DCNF.
Some European leaders have been rallying support to spend more on defense, with French President Emmanuel Macron becoming a prominent figure in the push.
“This is important, and this is something you have to realize as well. Because Russia is still a threat. Russia spends 10% of its GDP in defense. It’s close to us, and Russia is aggressive vis-à-vis the Europeans. We have, every week, cyber attacks. We had terrorist attacks,” Macron said during a Fox News Interview February 24. “They have a sort of hybrid war vis-à-vis the Europeans. So we have to step up our expenditure.”
The U.S. has so far spent $184.4 billion to aid Ukraine since fiscal year 2022, while Europe in total spent $266 billion as of December 31, 2024, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
Trump has long advocated for NATO to increase its defense spending, questioning why the U.S. continues to spend billions on European defense for little gain while some European countries are not able to meet the 2% threshold.
The State Department did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.