Will NATO Defence Ministers Resolve Military Spending Disputes?

Brussels, June 7 (NationPress) During the NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels, there was a general consensus to pursue a substantial increase in military expenditure among member nations to 5 percent of GDP. Nonetheless, significant disagreements concerning the timeline and categorization of spending exposed profound divisions as the alliance prepares for its upcoming summit in The Hague, set for June 24-25.

“There’s broad support. We are really close,” stated Mark Rutte, NATO’s secretary general, addressing reporters post-meeting. He expressed his complete confidence that an agreement will be reached before the next NATO summit in three weeks.

Rutte put forth a compromise proposal: to aim for 3.5 percent of GDP for essential military expenditure, with an additional 1.5 percent directed towards broader security-related sectors such as infrastructure, by 2032, according to Xinhua news agency.

Member nations are under increasing pressure from the US, which introduced the 5 percent target late last year. Washington has consistently urged its allies to enhance defence budgets, warning of reduced security commitments in Europe.

“To be an alliance, you have to be more than just flags. You need formations, and you have to maintain combat-ready capabilities,” US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth remarked upon arrival for the ministers' meeting on Thursday.

He acknowledged ongoing disputes, stating, “There are a few countries that are not quite there yet... We will get them there.”

The most significant differences were evident regarding the 2032 deadline and which expenses qualify for the two categories. While some nations deemed the timeline too slow, others contended that the target is unrealistic given current budgetary and industrial constraints.

Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene advocated for an earlier deadline, asserting that 2032 is definitely too late and pushing for a 2030 target. Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur indicated that Estonia aims to achieve 5 percent by next year and encouraged other nations to follow suit within five years.

Conversely, countries such as Spain, Germany, and Belgium expressed concerns about feasibility, arguing that attaining the 5 percent goal would be extremely difficult. The UK and Italy are targeting a more moderate increase, aiming for 3.5 percent of GDP by 2035.

NATO data reveals that by the end of this summer, 23 of its 32 members are projected to meet the 2 percent of GDP defence spending threshold. Both Spain and Italy have committed to reach this level by year-end, while Canada anticipates compliance by 2027.

The defence ministers also sanctioned updated NATO capability targets, defining the military capabilities needed to support operational strategies and ensure collective defence. Key priorities include air and missile defense, long-range strike capabilities, logistics, and large-scale land maneuver forces.

Germany pledged a robust contribution to NATO’s military expansion, with Defence Minister Boris Pistorius unveiling plans to increase active-duty troops by 60,000.

“Given Germany’s size and economic strength, we will shoulder a significant part of NATO’s military build-up,” Pistorius affirmed. However, Germany continues to face challenges with personnel shortages. Despite intensified recruitment efforts, troop numbers diminished further last year, and the average age of soldiers has risen.

Throughout the alliance, economic challenges and constrained national budgets present additional hurdles. The Netherlands estimates an annual requirement of 16 to 19 billion euros ($18.24 to $21.66 billion) to fulfill its obligations, as outlined by Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans in parliament.

Belgium’s Budget Minister Vincent Van Peteghem warned in April that increased defence spending might come at the expense of welfare programs. “Every euro that's a deficit today ... is a euro that will be debt, and that debt will eventually lead to taxes or cuts in the social welfare state,” he stated in an interview with the Financial Times. “Defence requires our full attention, but so does the sustainability of our welfare state.”