18:16 25 April 2025
NATO Sets New Record: Member States Spend $1.3T on Defense
In 2024, NATO countries spent a record $1.303 trillion on defense, exceeding projections. The data, published by NATO, reveals that 22 out of 32 member states met the alliance's defense spending target of 2 percent of GDP. Notably, Europe and Canada contributed $468 billion, with 38 percent allocated to arms purchases, while the United States spent $818 billion.
This marks a 19 percent increase compared to the previous year, with a $200 billion rise in defense spending. However, Montenegro failed to meet the 2 percent threshold, despite initial estimates predicting 23 countries would reach it.
In response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, NATO countries have significantly ramped up their defense budgets. Several nations, including Belgium, Spain, and Italy, have committed to increasing their military expenditures to meet the 2 percent target.
Discussions are underway to potentially raise the defense spending goal from 2 percent to 3-3.5 percent by the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague.
