NATO members significantly increased defense spending

NATO members in Europe and Canada increased their defense spending by 19.6 percent in 2025 compared to 2024. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

This information was announced in the annual report released on March 26 by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. At the same time, the total military expenditures of these countries remain lower than those of the United States.

The report notes that all 32 NATO members met the alliance's established criterion in 2025 by allocating at least 2 percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to defense. Seven countries — Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark, Norway, and the United States — allocated more than 3 percent of their GDP.

Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia each spent more than 3.5 percent of their GDP on defense. NATO members are expected to collectively reach this level by 2035.

Germany allocated 2.39 percent of its GDP to defense in 2025. In terms of absolute amount, Berlin ranks second only to Washington.

Of the total $1.63 trillion spent by NATO last year, $980 billion accounted for the United States' share. Germany made a significant contribution with over $120 billion.

The combined expenditures of all other allies reached a record $574 billion. In June 2025, NATO members agreed to increase security-related spending to up to 5 percent of GDP by 2035.

According to this plan, 3.5 percent of GDP will be directed toward core defense needs, while the remaining 1.5 percent will be spent on financing infrastructure to support counter-terrorism and military operations. Analysts believe that NATO countries in Europe may need to allocate nearly €2.2 trillion to defense by 2035 to achieve rearmament goals and offset the reduction in US military support.