Stoltenberg: in 2024, more than 20 NATO members will spend at least 2% of GDP on defense
More than 20 countries that are part of NATO will reach this year’s target, which involves allocating at least 2% of GDP to defense, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said.
During talks with President Joe Biden at the White House, Stoltenberg said that the number of NATO allies now meeting this spending target is far greater than five years ago. At that time, the number of such countries did not exceed dozens.
“Across Europe and Canada, NATO allies are increasing defense spending by 18% this year, the biggest increase in decades, and 23 allies are set to spend 2% of GDP or more on defense this year.” – said the head of the alliance.
Stoltenberg arrived in Washington to prepare for the NATO summit, which will be held in the US capital next month.
Biden said the alliance is going through one of the most important moments for Europe since World War II as Ukraine battles Russian forces.
“We strengthened NATO’s eastern flank, making it clear that we will defend every centimeter of its territory.” – said Biden.
Stoltenberg noted that when NATO leaders at their summit in 2014 set a target of 2% of GDP, only three members met it – the United States, Greece and Great Britain. At that time, NATO had 28 members, now it has 32.
Talking to journalists after his speech, Stoltenberg said that the tendency to increase military spending by NATO member states was caused by Russia’s seizure of Crimea in 2014.
According to Stoltenberg, NATO defense spending will be the main topic at the alliance summit in Washington next month, after which Russia’s war against Ukraine will be discussed. He also urged not to allow a repeat of the delay in the provision of US military aid to Ukraine, which occurred earlier this year.
