Estonia Commits to Meeting Trump’s 5% Defense Spending Target
Estonia is following in the footsteps of Lithuania and Poland, both of which have pledged to increase spending in response to President Donald Trump’s call to NATO countries. Prime Minister Kristen Michal of Estonia has stated that they will match Lithuania’s commitment to allocate 5 percent of GDP to defense spending, as requested by President Trump. Michal emphasized the importance of increasing NATO defense spending in line with the new directives.
Lithuania, with its border with Russia and the heavily militarized Kaliningrad exclave, has emphasized the need to strengthen its defenses. Estonia’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also highlighted Russia as an existential threat to security.
Some European nations like Germany, France, and Britain have been resistant to significantly increasing defense spending, citing economic constraints. Nonetheless, countries like Poland, which joined NATO in 1999, have shown a willingness to invest in their defense capabilities.
Spain, with defense spending at 1.5 percent of GDP, is among the lowest contributors to NATO. There are ongoing discussions with Spain to address its levels of defense spending. Analysts recognize that states directly facing threats from Russia are more likely to prioritize defense spending, while others less exposed to those risks may be more hesitant to invest significantly in defense.
