NATO Members Agree Historic 5% GDP Defense Spending Boost Excluding Spain

NATO is undertaking a historic increase in defense spending, with member countries agreeing to allocate up to 5% of their GDP towards military and related security investments to address escalating global threats, particularly Russian aggression in Ukraine. This new target surpasses the previous 2% guideline, reflecting the need for enhanced capabilities including tanks, armored vehicles, air defense systems, and infrastructure upgrades. However, the 5% spending goal will not apply uniformly: Spain secured an exemption, committing to 2.1% of GDP, and President Donald Trump argued that the United States should not be bound by this target, insisting that allies must increase their contributions. Trump's attendance at the NATO summit underscores his ongoing push for higher defense spending among alliance members amid heightened tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The increased budget aims not only to expand military hardware but also to improve cyber defense, hybrid warfare readiness, and overall operational coordination within the alliance. Despite broad support for these measures, some NATO members like Germany and Canada still lag in meeting existing defense spending commitments, highlighting ongoing challenges in alliance unity and burden-sharing.