President Biden and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that a record number of allies are meeting their military spending commitments as both leaders seek to present a strong and unwavering response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Biden and Stoltenberg will meet next month in Washington, where NATO members are expected to discuss additional measures to help secure Ukraine’s long-term security, funding and eventual membership.
“I expect that when we meet next month, we will agree to participate in security assistance and training. This will reduce the burden on the United States and strengthen our support for Ukraine.”– Stoltenberg said.
This is possible in part because a number of allies are meeting their unofficial commitments to spend at least 2 percent of gross domestic product on their troops. When the NATO allies committed in 2014, only three members — including the United States — had reached that mark, Stoltenberg said. About 10 countries did so five years ago, he said, and more than 20 of the alliance’s 32 members will do so this year.
Stoltenberg also said the allies had increased military spending by 18 percent this year, the biggest jump in a decade.
The two leaders’ assurances come as questions about the alliance and commitment to Ukraine have resurfaced. Russia has recently moved to the forefront after a temporary delay in military aid to Ukraine caused by a congressional impasse. At the same time, Biden’s main opponent in the elections, Trump, expressed skepticism about the aid to Ukraine and the value of NATO itself.
