NATO: 'Unprecedented Rise' in Member Defense Spending

Facts

• NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday – the eve of a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels – said the organization has seen an 'unprecedented rise' in defense spending among its member countries.¹
• Stoltenberg was responding to comments made by former US Pres. Donald Trump, who on Saturday warned he would allow Russia to attack NATO members who are 'delinquent' in spending 2% of their GDPs on defense.¹
• In 2024, Stoltenberg said, NATO's European states are expected to invest a combined $380B in defense, which would equal 2% of GDP — up from 1.85% in 2023.²
• Stoltenberg added that a record 18 of the coalition's 31 members are expected to hit the 2% of GDP defense spending goal, but 'some allies still have a way to go.'³
• In a related matter, Stoltenberg urged the US House to pass a 'vital' military aid package for Ukraine, which passed the Senate earlier this week. Stoltenberg warned Republicans who oppose the aid that China could become aggressive if it sees Russia win its war.²

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²Reuters and ³CNBC.

Narratives

• Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by Daily Caller. NATO is obviously waking up to the fact that a second Trump presidency is in the offing. The alliance's members are preparing to increase their spending, just as they did when Trump first took office and put them on notice. Under Trump, the US isn't going to protect any country who's not sufficiently invested in its own security and the protection of its allies.
• Anti-Trump narrative, as provided by Huffington Post. There are almost too many inaccuracies in Trump's understanding of NATO to break them all down. But a full two years before Trump took office, NATO decided that 2% of GDP would be a goal for defense spending, and it would be strived for over time. Countries who aren't meeting the goal aren't costing the US money. NATO isn't a protection racket, it's an alliance.

Predictions