Jens Stoltenberg Commends Unprecedented Surge In NATO Defence Spending

The figures for 2023 revealed a substantial 11% real increase in defence spending, a development the Secretary General hailed as an “unprecedented rise.

He further projected that in 2024, 18 Allies would be allocating 2% of their GDP to defence—a remarkable escalation from 2014, when only three Allies met this target.

“In 2024, NATO Allies in Europe will amass a combined defence investment of 380 billion US dollars, equating to 2% of their collective GDP,” Mr Stoltenberg declared.

He continued, “We are witnessing tangible progress: European Allies are stepping up their spending. Nonetheless, some Allies still have ground to cover.

“As agreed at the Vilnius Summit, it is imperative that all Allies commit to investing 2%, which is deemed a minimum requirement.”

“I anticipate that this year 18 allies will be spending 2% of GDP. And this is also a record. It’s a six-fold increase since 2014, when only three allies met this requirement,” he added.

Mr Stoltenberg, however, emphasised that for some allies, “there is still a long way to go,” as nearly half of the 31 NATO member states have not yet reached the two percent mark, which is mandatory for all allies in the Alliance.

The Secretary General’s optimism regarding the trajectory of defence expenditure among NATO Allies resonates with a broader narrative of renewed vigour and solidarity within the alliance.