According to the latest annual report published on Thursday, March 26, NATO member states’ military spending has increased significantly since 2015, showing a 38% increase in volume, adjusted for inflation, between 2014 and 2025.
– This increase is mainly due to the rise in defense spending by non-US members of the Alliance. – Their share has increased from 27% of the total defense spending of the Alliance in 2014 to 41% in 2025. – The growth in military spending by European countries and Canada has been particularly high, exceeding 19% per year in 2024 and 2025.
When looking at countries individually, it is observed that all Alliance members have met the goal of dedicating 2% of their GDP to defense, formally set in 2014.
– The countries that allocate the most resources to defense are those closest to Russia: Poland, the Baltic countries, and the Nordic countries. – France, which was previously high in the ranking, is now among the Alliance members that allocate the least resources to defense, alongside Belgium and other Southern European countries (Spain, Italy, and Portugal).
Between 2014 and 2025, the Baltic countries, the Nordic countries, and Poland have seen the largest increase in the share of their GDP devoted to defense.
– In contrast, France and the UK are among the countries where this share has evolved the least, while the US is the only NATO country where it has decreased.
The objective for military spending by Alliance member states has been raised to 5% of GDP in 2025, with 3.5% for actual defense and 1.5% for peripheral defense expenses (infrastructure, cybersecurity, etc.).
– Several countries are expected to reach this figure by 2026, including Poland and Estonia.
These developments come as the US’s commitment to the Alliance is increasingly uncertain. On March 27, Donald Trump stated that the US was not “obliged to be present at NATO’s side,” citing European allies’ refusal to help them in their war against Iran. He questioned why they should support allies who are not supportive in return.
