According to authorities on Tuesday, nearly twice as many as last year are predicted to spend two percent of GDP on defense in 2024—roughly two thirds of the 31 members of NATO.
On Wednesday, after former US President Donald Trump ignited a political uproar by stating he would “encourage” Russia to strike nations not paying their fair amount, Alliance Chief Jens Stoltenberg is scheduled to present NATO’s updated estimates.
According to the estimations, some 20 partners are expected to reach the two percent goal this year, according to officials.
The Republican White House frontrunner was rebuked from all sides after saying in a stump speech Saturday he would not defend NATO members who had not met their financial obligations, in his most extreme broadside against the organisation.
NATO in 2014 set a target for members to spend two percent of their gross domestic product on defence in response to Russia’s seizure of Crimea from Ukraine.
Trump’s goading may have accelerated the process as he railing against Washington’s NATO members to force them to increase their defense spending while he was president.
Nevertheless, in 2023, only 11 out of the 31 allies met the objective, and the majority of combined defense spending was still borne by the United States.
Following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO raised the two percent threshold to a minimum requirement, serving as a wake-up call for European nations.
Important nations like Germany have increased their defense budgets and are predicted to reach the goal this year.
Leaders such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and US President Joe Biden, whom Trump is expected to challenge in November’s presidential contest, denounced Trump’s remarks from the weekend.
Scholz cautioned that it was “irresponsible and dangerous” to throw doubt on NATO’s collective defense guarantee, which has protected Europe since World War II.
In response to the criticism, Trump asserted that his use of force had strengthened NATO and that “money came rolling in” following his attacks on member nations who failed to make their fair share of contributions.
