Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
A top US official has called on NATO allies to dramatically increase their defense spending, urging them to adopt former President Donald Trump’s proposal of allocating 5% of their GDP toward military and security-related investments ahead of a pivotal summit in The Hague.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, President Trump has historically been a huge critic of NATO members who fail to meet the alliance’s defense spending obligations. During his first term in office in 2016, Trump repeatedly slammed European allies for not paying their “fair share,” accusing them of relying too heavily on US military support while failing to meet the agreed-upon defense spending target of 2% of GDP. Since returning to office, Trump has escalated his criticism, demanding that NATO members raise their contributions to 5% of GDP and warning that the US may not defend countries that don’t meet their commitments. As of now, NATO’s official spending requirement remains at 2% of GDP, a benchmark set at the 2014 summit in Wales. According to the latest NATO data, 23 of the 32 member countries currently meet or exceed this threshold, though several major economies—including Germany, Spain, and Canada—still fall short.
What’s going on now: While speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made a forceful appeal for allies to adopt a significantly higher defense spending target, aligning with former President Donald Trump’s call for 5% of GDP. “To be an alliance, you got to be more than flags. You got to be formations. You got to be more than conferences. You need to be, keep combat-ready capabilities,” Hegseth said.
He added that “every shoulder has to be to the plow” and that “every country has to contribute at that level of 5 percent,” insisting the commitment must be finalized by the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague. Hegseth also warned that the United States cannot be the sole guarantor of NATO’s defense posture, stating, “It cannot and will not be reliance on America. It can’t just be US capabilities.”
Attached is a list of NATO countries and their estimated defense spending as a percentage of GDP for 2024:
Albania: 2.04%
Belgium: 1.28%
Bulgaria: 2.15%
Canada: 1.3%
Croatia: 1.79%
Czech Republic: 1.92%
Denmark: 2.42%
Estonia: 3.37%
Finland: 2.3%
France: 2.05%
Germany: 1.89%
Greece: 3.13%
Hungary: 2.16%
Iceland: N/A
Italy: 1.61%
Latvia: 3.26%
Lithuania: 3.12%
Luxembourg: 0.96%
Montenegro: 1.83%
Netherlands: 1.92%
North Macedonia: 2.10%
Norway: 2.09%
Poland: 4.15%
Portugal: 1.53%
Romania: 2.30%
Slovakia: 2.01%
Slovenia: 1.31%
Spain: 1.51%
Sweden: 1.43%
Turkey: 1.92%
United Kingdom: 2.28%
United States: 3.4%
