There were 20 more NATO countries expected to meet the alliance's defense spending benchmark this year compared to a decade ago.
Daniel Kochis, a foreign policy analyst who focuses on NATO, attributes the increased spending to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the threat Russia could pose to the alliance if it succeeds in Ukraine.
Poland spends the highest share of its GDP on defense among the alliance, at 4.12%. Estonia is second at 3.43%, and the U.S. is third at 3.38%, followed by Latvia at 3.15%, Greece at 3.08%, Lithuania at 2.85%, and Finland at 2.41%. Of those countries, only the U.S. and Greece do not share a border with Russia.
Austin, who met with NATO ministers of defense last week, added emphasis to the fact that the alliance is committed “to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense,” and he stressed, “Let me underscore the words ‘at least 2%.'” U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps announced in April that the alliance should increase the benchmark to 2.5%, which he said would make a “real difference.”
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