Whereas NATO nations dwelling close to the Russian border pay effectively over two p.c of their GDP on defence, these additional away pay much less.
Twenty-two of the US-led defence alliance’s 30 European members met the minimal goal for navy spending in 2024, however that differed from place to put.
On the eve of a gathering of NATO defence ministers, the alliance’s Secretary Normal Mark Rutte stated on Wednesday that NATO members ought to pay “significantly extra” for his or her defence. US President Donald Trump has demanded a rise to 5 p.c of nationwide output.
Poland led the pack in 2024, with a marked improve in its defence spending since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine practically three years in the past.
Its spending grew from 1.88 p.c of GDP in 2014 to 2.23 p.c in 2022, 3.26 p.c in 2023 and 4.12 p.c in 2024.
Other than Poland, whose capital Warsaw lies some 1,150 kilometres (715 miles) from Moscow, 4 different nations with capitals lower than 1,000 kilometres from the Kremlin are within the high 5 on the subject of defence spending.
Estonia (3.43 p.c), Latvia (3.15 p.c), Lithuania (2.85 p.c) and Finland (2.41 p.c) all share a border with Russia.
On the different finish of the spectrum, these spending the least are on the different finish of the continent.
In the case of Spain, which spent simply 1.28 p.c on defence in 2024, its capital Madrid lies 3,450 kilometres from Moscow.
On common these mendacity 1,000 kilometres from Moscow spend 0.6 share factors extra, in response to an AFP rely based mostly on NATO figures.
General, the 32 NATO members dedicate $1.474 billion to their defence.
Of that $476 billion comes from European nations, just below half the $968 billion spent by america.
Not accounting for inflation, the collective defence price range has grown by 30 p.c since 2014 within the alliance and by 67 p.c on the European continent.
It was in 2014 that NATO nations dedicated to extend their defence spending, after Russia annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine, to not less than two p.c of their gross home product.
In 2024, 23 out of the 32 had honoured that dedication, together with 22 European members, in addition to america.
In 2014, solely three nations revered the goal, whereas lower than 10 had met it by 2022.
A number of nations have known as for the goal to be elevated.
Trump, who accuses the opposite alliance members of not doing sufficient to make sure their very own safety, has even spoken of 5 p.c.
NATO chief Rutte on Wednesday stated the goal ought to in all probability be greater than three p.c.
In late January the French and German defence ministers estimated that two p.c of GDP is inadequate for defence functions.
The two nations, the most important European contributors in absolute figures, dedicate respectively $97.7 and $64.3 billion to their defence.
Lithuania has floated a goal of three p.c for the alliance.
Its president stated in January that the nation would earmark between 5 p.c and 6 p.c of its GDP to finance its defence wants between 2026 and 2030.
AFP
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