In light of the recent announcements by Canada and Portugal to increase defence spending, it is expected that all NATO member states will meet the 2% GDP defence spending target by the end of 2025. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made this statement at the G7 summit in Canada.
It was expected that NATO countries would reach the 2% GDP target, set in 2014, within a decade. However, by 2024, eight of the Alliance's 32 members had failed to meet the target. In January 2025, US President Donald Trump called on NATO countries to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP. Currently, no NATO member, including the US, spends that much; in 2024, Poland led the way with defence spending accounting for 4.12% of its GDP.
In early June, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that, by 2032, Alliance members should increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP. He explained that NATO must strengthen its defence capabilities and prevent attacks on member countries. According to him, 3.5% of GDP would be allocated to core defence spending, while a further 1.5% would be directed towards investments in related areas such as infrastructure, the defence industry and cybersecurity.
Lithuania, Estonia and Norway have publicly supported the increase in defence spending, while Spain has opposed it. The final decision will be made at the NATO summit, which is to be held on 24–25 June in The Hague.
Photo by NATO
