In a major development, it has been announced that the number of allied countries spending at least 2% of their country’s economic output on defense has doubled during President Joe Biden’s term. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg visited Washington to meet with Biden ahead of the alliance’s upcoming annual summit in July.
Stoltenberg revealed, “Just five years ago, there were less than 10 allies that met the 2% of GDP defense spending target. This year, more than 20 allies will meet this benchmark.” This increase in defense spending is seen as beneficial for both Europe and America.
The specific countries that have not yet met the defense-spending goals remain unclear. However, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago, the number of NATO member countries meeting these targets has risen steadily. This trend has been particularly noticeable among nations bordering Russia or in close proximity to the region.
At a summit in Wales in 2014, NATO members committed to spending a minimum of 2% of their GDP on defense, following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Former President Donald Trump criticized countries that did not meet this goal, citing the heavy burden on the US in protecting Europe.
Biden, on the other hand, has emphasized the importance of NATO and its role as the “greatest defense alliance in the history of the world.” Under his leadership, NATO has expanded with Finland joining last year and Sweden becoming a member in March.
As Ukraine seeks membership in NATO, Biden has indicated that the country’s conflict with Russia must be resolved first. Discussions between the White House and NATO leadership have been ongoing to push for increased defense spending across the alliance.
This latest announcement comes at a crucial time, potentially impacting the upcoming presidential debate and countering Trump’s previous criticisms regarding defense spending.
