Recently, the NATO leaders met in the Hague, Netherlands and agreed to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.

• Existing defence spending 
  • Commitment Made: All NATO members pledged to spend at least 2% of their GDP on core defence
• News Allocation of Enhanced Defense Spending (5% of GDP):
  • Core Military Spending (3.5% of GDP):  Focused on troop readiness, equipment procurement, operational deployments, and capability development.
  • Support and Infrastructure Investment (1.5% of GDP): Directed towards upgrading military logistics infrastructure (ports, roads, airfields), enhancing cyber defenses, fostering defense innovation, and strengthening national resilience.

Reasons for Enhanced NATO Defense Spending

• Russia’s Aggressive Actions: NATO views Russia’s actions—such as the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2022 invasion of Ukraine—as a long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security. 
  • In response to Russia’s advanced weapons, cyber attacks, and disinformation efforts, NATO aims to maintain strong military readiness and rapid response capabilities.
• Ongoing Threat of Terrorism: Despite weaker major groups, terrorism remains a shifting threat. NATO counters lone attackers, online radicalization, and unstable regions by boosting defense spending, intelligence sharing, cyber defenses, and special forces training.

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