Many NATO Nations Experience Significant Increase in Military Spending

News Analysis

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has often criticized other NATO countries for not meeting their financial obligations to the military alliance. However, upon his return to the White House in January, he may encounter less opposition.

European nations’ interest in increasing defense spending has grown due to the conflict in Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing aggressive behavior.

But what has been each country’s contribution? How do these contributions compare historically? How much are members spending on the conflict in Ukraine, and how much more are they willing to invest?

What Are NATO’s Current Targets?

In 2014, NATO established a goal that all members should allocate 2 percent of their GDP to defense by 2024.

Which countries have met the target, and who are the ones lagging behind?

For instance, Poland, the NATO member closest to Ukraine, allocated 4.1 percent of its GDP toward defense, up from 1.8 percent in 2014.

NATO states that US defense spending constitutes around two-thirds of the alliance’s overall expenditure.

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