NATO allies in Europe and Canada saw their defence spending rise by nearly twenty percent in 2024, with total investments amounting to four hundred eighty-five billion dollars, which is roughly four hundred sixty-seven and a half billion euros.

In statements made on Wednesday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and NATO Secretary General highlighted that although two-thirds of allies currently achieve the two percent GDP target, much greater expenditure is necessary to fill capability gaps and deter potential Russian aggressions.

Rutte indicated that if the two percent target remains unchanged, the alliance might not be sufficiently defended in four to five years, proposing that the ultimate target could be set well above three percent of GDP. Defence ministers from NATO’s thirty-two-member coalition are slated to convene in Brussels on Thursday, where discussions are anticipated to concentrate on boosting defence budgets and establishing new military capability objectives ahead of a summit set for late June.

Furthermore, a Danish intelligence report has raised alarms regarding the possibility of a large-scale Russian offensive against European NATO countries if the United States were to withdraw its support; however, Rutte dismissed this scenario, asserting that any such attacks would provoke a severe retaliation.

NATO allies have also been called upon to maintain their backing for Ukraine and to increase military production in the months ahead.