BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO defense ministers are set Thursday to approve purchasing targets for stocking up on weapons and military equipment to better defend Europe, the Arctic and the North Atlantic, as part of a U.S. push to ramp up security spending.

The U.S. defense secretary expressed optimism that allied countries would increase their defense budgets, a demand of President Trump’s.

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said a deadline had yet to be set for member countries to hit a benchmark of spending 5% of gross domestic product on defense.