Pakistan, June 24 -- NATO chief Mark Rutte on Monday said a new defence spending pledge to be announced at a summit in The Hague was fundamental for ensuring that the alliance can deter Russia.

US President Donald Trump has demanded that NATO allies commit to spending five percent of their GDP on defence at their two-day gathering in The Hague, starting on Tuesday.

"The defence investment plan that allies will agree in The Hague introduces a new baseline, five percent of GDP to be invested in defence," Rutte said.

"This is a quantum leap that is ambitious, historic and fundamental to securing our future."

The focus at the summit in the Netherlands will be on keeping Trump happy after his return to power sparked fears that he could blo...