All NATO members are expected to meet the longstanding target of spending 2% of GDP on defence this year, but only three currently reach a new, higher target set by alliance leaders in June, according to NATO data released Thursday.
Military spending across NATO has risen sharply in recent years, spurred by Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine and calls from U.S. leaders for European allies to invest more in their own defence. Last year, more than 10 of NATO’s 32 members fell short of the 2% goal agreed in 2014.
Figures for 2025 show all allies meeting the target, with seven just at the 2% minimum and several slightly above. Poland leads in defence spending as a share of GDP at 4.48%, followed by Lithuania at 4% and Latvia at 3.73%. These three countries are currently the only NATO members exceeding the new 3.5% target agreed at the June summit in The Hague.
The new goal is part of a broader plan to reach 5% of GDP on defence and security-related investments by 2035, covering areas such as cybersecurity and infrastructure upgrades for military logistics.
Speaking at the opening of a Rheinmetall ammunition factory in Unterluess, Germany, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the increased spending but stressed that funding alone does not guarantee security.
“Cash alone doesn’t provide security,” he said. “Deterrence doesn’t come from 5%. Deterrence comes from the capability to fight potential enemies.”
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Every June, roughly 13 million young people in China sit down at the same time to take the same test. They have been preparing for it, in many cases, ...
European museums are increasingly returning cultural artefacts to countries in Africa and the Middle East, as pressure grows to address the legacy of ...
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The final text of a peace agrement has been agreed by the U.S. and Iran, with the signing of the deal expected to take place electronically within 24 hours, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said.
As the 2026 World Cup kicked off on 11 June across North America, U.S. visa restrictions and travel policies have made it impossible for supporters, football officials and even a FIFA-appointed referee to attend. It's raised a lot of questions about access to such a high-profile global event.
Every June, roughly 13 million young people in China sit down at the same time to take the same test. They have been preparing for it, in many cases, since primary school. Their families have rearranged their lives around it.
Uzbekistan will launch a new digital financial platform from 1 July aimed at simplifying access to finance for entrepreneurs, as part of broader efforts to support small businesses, encourage innovation and accelerate private sector development.
SpaceX has made history with the largest initial public offering ever in the United States, pricing its shares at $135 each and achieving a market valuation of $1.77 trillion.
SpaceX made a historic entrance into the Nasdaq on Friday, surging over 20% in its first day of trading and lifting its valuation to more than $2 trillion. Investors flocked to the world’s largest IPO, betting on Elon Musk’s sprawling empire spanning rockets, AI and beyond.
While France hosts next week’s Group of Seven summit, businesses in neighbouring Switzerland have already begun taking precautions, with many shops in Geneva boarded up ahead of a large anti-G7 demonstration expected on Sunday.
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk have criticised Britain, France and Germany for leaving them out of talks with Russia about a potential future peace deal for Ukraine.
Every June, roughly 13 million young people in China sit down at the same time to take the same test. They have been preparing for it, in many cases, since primary school. Their families have rearranged their lives around it.
European museums are increasingly returning cultural artefacts to countries in Africa and the Middle East, as pressure grows to address the legacy of colonialism and disputed ownership.
Uganda’s health ministry has raised concerns over what it described as unfair travel restrictions imposed during the current Ebola outbreak, warning that such measures risk undermining transparent reporting. .
Georgia is overhauling its migration laws in one of the most significant legal reforms in years, introducing criminal penalties for fake marriages, tighter controls on foreign students and expanded investigative powers for the migration authorities.
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