NATO Secretary -General proposes an increase in defense spending to 5 % of GDP, which could change the Alliance’s security strategy.
NATO Secretary -General Mark Rutte expects the leaders of the Alliance Member States to agree to an increase in military expenses to five percent of GDP at the June Summit in the Haaga, Netherlands. He said this at the NATO parliamentary meeting in the US city of Dayton, TASR writes, according to Reuters report.
At the Hague Summit, as expected, among other things, how much Member States should invest in defense should be decided. This goal has been set at two percent of GDP since 2014.
A 5 % goal
“I assume that in Hague we will agree on the high goal of defense expenditure, in the total amount of five percent. Say five percent, but I am not saying how they should be divided. But it will be much more than three percent in terms of military equipment.
NATO’s head already in a letter addressed to the leader of the 32 Alliance’s leaders proposed that by 2032 to raise the defense expenses to 3.5 percent of GDP in terms of military equipment directly, plus 1.5 percent of GDP to earmar for defense -related and safety items such as cyber security, infrastructure and other areas.
Poland closest to the destination
The Allies in the North Atlantic Alliance committed themselves to spend two percent of their GDP in 2014. However, US President Donald Trump is now urging the Member States to contribute up to five percent of GDP, and in safety, they have become less dependent on the US. Of all the members of the Alliance, Poland is the closest to this goal, which wants to put 4.7 percent of GDP this year in its defense.
