**Europe‘s Military Spending: A Mixed Picture**
Seven out of 30 European NATO members are still not meeting the alliance’s minimum defense spending targets. This includes some of Europe’s largest economies, such as Italy and Spain.
**Who Shoulders NATO’s Budget?**
The US has always been the largest contributor to NATO, providing billions of dollars in funding between 2012 and 2021. Despite this, European countries are expected to share the burden of defense spending.
**European Countries Fall Short**
Just seven European countries – including Italy, Spain, and Belgium – are not meeting the target of 2% of GDP for defense spending. However, when considering the size of these economies, the shortfall is even more significant.
**Germany‘s Defense Spending Lags Behind**
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, only recently met the 2% target in early 2024, despite being one of the richest countries in the EU. This raises questions about Germany’s commitment to defense spending.
**Some European Countries Boost Defense Spending**
However, some countries like Poland, Estonia, and Latvia have significantly increased their defense spending in recent years. These countries are leading by example, but more needs to be done to meet the alliance’s targets.
**Trump’s Peace Plan Could Put More Pressure on Europe**
Former US President Donald Trump is pushing for a peace plan that could put additional pressure on European countries to increase their defense spending. The reality of Russia’s war in Ukraine suggests that 2% of GDP might not be enough, and some experts are calling for an increase to at least 5%.
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