According to NATO’s 2025 activity report, while all allies have met the target of allocating at least 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) to defense, many countries have significantly increased their defense spending, and three allies have already met the new 3.5 percent target. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s 2025 Annual Report has been published. The report included data on defense expenditures of NATO countries.
Accordingly, it is estimated that the basic defense expenditures of NATO allies will exceed 1.4 trillion dollars in 2025. European allies and Canada are taking on more responsibility with major increases in defense spending. In the 2014-2025 period, annual defense expenditures of NATO Europe and Canada more than doubled, increasing by 106 percent in real terms. In 2025 alone, NATO allies in Europe and Canada spent a total of 574 billion dollars on defense.
This means a 20 percent increase compared to 2024. On the other hand, all allies reported that they met or exceeded the 2 percent target set in 2014. Three allies have already reached the “baseline 3.5 percent military spending target” set at the 2025 Hague Summit, while many have significantly increased their spending. According to 2025 forecast data, Poland ranked first with 4.30 percent, while Lithuania with 4 percent and Latvia with 3.74 percent were the other allies that exceeded the 3.5 percent threshold.
These countries are Estonia (3.42 percent), Denmark (3.34 percent), Norway (3.20 percent), USA (3.19 percent), Finland (2.87 percent), Greece (2.79 percent), Netherlands (2.59 percent), Sweden (2.50 percent), Germany (2.39 percent), Turkey (2.33 percent), England (2.31 percent), Romania. (2.21 percent), Bulgaria (2.14 percent), Luxembourg (2.13 percent), North Macedonia (2.13 percent), Croatia (2.10 percent), Hungary (2.07 percent), Slovakia (2.06 percent), France (2.05 percent), Montenegro (2.05 percent), Slovenia (2.04 percent), Czechia (2.01 percent), Italy (2.01 percent), Albania (2 percent), Belgium (2 percent), Canada (2.00 percent), Portugal (2 percent) and Spain (2 percent).
In 2014, only Greece, the US and the UK allocated more than 2 percent of GDP to defence. The USA made 52 percent of the alliance’s total GDP and 60 percent of its total defense expenditures. – “I expect a reliable road map from the allies at the Ankara Summit.” Rutte, whose statements are included in the report, pointed out that the Alliance will enter a new era in 2025. Noting that NATO has become stronger in the face of a more dangerous and complex security environment, Rutte pointed out that this environment is characterized by many threats and challenges.
Rutte stated that Russia remains the most important and direct threat to security and peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic region, noting that strategic competition is increasing and terrorism remains a permanent threat to NATO. Noting that the “instability of the southern neighborhood” remains intact, Rutte said: “NATO will continue to be vigilant and will continue to ensure the security of our alliance.” he said.
Underlining that the NATO Summit held in The Hague in June 2025 was a turning point for the alliance, Rutte reminded that the allies committed to allocate 5 percent of GDP to defense every year until 2035. Rutte stated that these decisions make NATO more fair and ensure a more balanced sharing of the security burden. “Our common obligations make us all safer, but we need to maintain the momentum. While the next NATO Summit is planned to be held in Ankara, I expect the allies to put forward a clear and reliable road map to achieve the 5 percent target.” He made a statement.
– “There is no tolerance for complacency and wasting time.” Stating that NATO and its allies continue to increase their support to Ukraine, Rutte noted that the alliance continues to strengthen its deterrence and defense by adapting its command structure in 2025. Rutte said, “I expect the NATO Summit to be held in Ankara in July to be built on the gains achieved in 2025. There is no tolerance for complacency and wasting time.
Because the security of 1 billion people is at stake. In an age of global uncertainty, a strong transatlantic bond continues to be of vital importance. North America and Europe have always been stronger together under the umbrella of NATO, and this is the only way we can maintain our security in a more dangerous world.” gave his message. At the 2025 Hague Summit, the allies agreed on the new defense spending target as “3.5 percent core defense expenditures and 1.5 percent allocated to defense and security-related investments such as civil preparedness and resilience, promotion of innovation, protection of critical infrastructure and strengthening of defense industries.” Source: AA
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