Several countries were under pressure to increase their defense spending at a faster pace than reaching the 2-percent target by 2024.

According to analysts, this would risk bringing countries into conflict with the European Union (EU)'s fiscal rules that require them to continue reducing budget deficits.

With the probability of the U.S. role in European security diminishing, debate has been resumed on the continent about the creation of a European Defence Union to complement both NATO and their national defense forces.

Leading the call for a European Defence Union and the establishment of a headquarters for defense research and operations has been European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who has rejected Trump's political pressure on the EU.

"It has been the American message for many, many years. I am very much against letting ourselves be pushed into this," said Juncker on Thursday at a security conference in Munich.

"Europeans must bundle their defense spending better and spend the money more efficiently," he continued.

The efficient use of funds for an EU defense force, however, is far from reaching consensus, with many worrying that it would double and conflict with NATO. Others argued that an EU military, rather than a coalition force of national militaries, would turn the union toward even greater integration.

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