NATO Secretary General Rutte: Europe, Canada Increase Defence Spending by 20% in 2024
Defence spending by European NATO countries and Canada in 2024 is expected to increase by 20% compared to last year, Reuters reports, citing NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
‘We have calculated the numbers. They are growing. In fact, spending by Europe and Canada grew by 20% in 2024, bringing the total amount of additional investment in recent years from $640 billion to $700 billion,’ he said.
Rutte said he was looking forward to a meeting of NATO defence ministers next week to discuss ways to effectively increase defence investment.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump toughened up the requirements for NATO member states to increase defence spending, as he did during his first term. In particular, he called on the Allies to raise the minimum level of defence spending to 5% of GDP.
Many NATO members have increased military spending, especially after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
On 13 February, NATO Defence Ministers will meet in Brussels under the chairmanship of Secretary General Mark Rutte.