Jens Stoltenberg's remarks come days after U.S. Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump said members who miss their spending targets should be abandoned.

Ottawa says NATO's military alliance is essential to Canada’s security but stopped short of criticizing Donald Trump for threatening to abandon members who miss spending targets.

NATO and U.S. leaders said they support Ukraine. And they said co-ordination between Russia, China and Iran is concerning — but the alliance stands ready.

NATO boss Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday he expected Hungary's parliament to ratify Sweden's accession as soon as it reconvenes at the end of February.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later also linked the ratification to Turkey’s desire to buy fighter jets from the United States.

Turkey's parliament is widely expected to approve Sweden's NATO membership bid on Tuesday, clearing the biggest remaining hurdle to expanding the Western military alliance.