Boosting defence spending is a task for all NATO members willing to close gaps with allies, ministers from historic low-spenders Italy and Germany said on Friday, following a round of talks with European counterparts.

German foreign minister Johann Wadephul said the country was backing U.S. President Donald Trump's call to increase the defense spending target of NATO members.

Trump’s demand has rattled many European allies, particularly those already struggling to meet Nato’s existing target of spending at least two per cent of GDP on defence. None of Nato’s 32 members, including the United States,