This indicator is not Annual Report of the Atlantic Alliance Secretary-Generalrelative to 2024, in which it is mentioned that a total of 22 countries reached the minimum limit of 2% of GDP.
More than two thirds of the 32 NATO member countries reached last year the threshold of 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for military expenses, below the objective defended by the US President, was released Thursday.
Os European countries have increased their defense budgets Since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Before the NATO summit, scheduled for Hague in June, the president of the United States is Press members of the organization to go further and agree to increase their military expenses to 5% of GDPa level that the United States themselves do not reach today.
Com 3,19% do PIBits ratio last year was in fourth place in the alliancebehind Poland, Estonia and Latviathree countries bordering Russia.
United States remains the largest contributor
But in absolute terms, the USA They continue to be, by far, the largest contributor among NATO members.
Last year, only the Military Budget of the United States represented 64% of the Military Expenses of the Atlantic Alliance.
Donald Trump implied that may refuse to protect countries that do not spend enoughas I had already done in the first term in the White House (2017-2021).
NATO had initially planned that 23 countries reach the threshold of 2% until 2024. In 2014, only Three had done so.
And Portugal?
In total, the expenses of European and Canada members increased more than 19% last yearaccording to the annual report of the Alliance.
Several countries that have not yet achieved the goal of 2% have recently committed to intensify their efforts, as is the Case of Portugal.
A Spainthe least contributing country (dedicated only 1.24% of its GDP in 2024), this week was committed to Invest more than 10 billion euros to reach 2% this year.
Portugal too never reached the goal of 2% and the government of Luís Montenegro (PSD/CDS-PP) had pointed out 2029 To do so, anticipating in one year the goal defined before by its predecessor, António Costa (PS).
The executive has already come to admit this goal further, but warned that such It would only be possible with a regime agreement.
The Ministry of Finance announced on Wednesday that it will ask the European Commission AAclause that allows expenses related to the defense area, up to the limit of 1.5% of GDP, are not accounted for within the limits imposed by the ceilings of liquid primary expenditure, defined in the for 2025-2028.
Similarly, he added in a statement, the dDefense -related thickup to the limit of 1.5% of GDP, will not be accounted for in the assessment of compliance with the reference value for the deficit (3%).
“This decision was consensualized with the largest opposition party, and the Socialist Party was heard by the government in this process,” the government said.
