European NATO Members Boost Defense Spending by 20% as Trump Pressures Alliance

NATO's European allies and Canada dramatically increased their defense spending by 20% in 2025, according to alliance chief Mark Rutte's annual report. The boost comes as President Trump continues pressuring NATO partners to spend more on defense and recently criticized allies as 'cowards' for their lack of support in the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.

European NATO members and Canada dramatically boosted their military spending by 20% this past year when adjusted for inflation, according to alliance leader Mark Rutte’s yearly assessment released Thursday from Brussels.

In his report, Rutte called on member nations to maintain this upward trajectory, stating: “I expect Allies at the next NATO Summit in Ankara to show they are on a clear and credible path towards the 5% objective.” He emphasized that “a strong transatlantic bond remains essential in an age of global uncertainty.”

The spending surge comes amid continued pressure from President Trump, who has consistently called for NATO partners to dramatically increase their military budgets. The current administration argues that European nations should eventually take the lead role in defending their own continent conventionally.

Trump escalated his criticism of alliance members just last week regarding their response to the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, labeling the long-standing American allies “cowards” and declaring on social media that “without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!”

According to Rutte’s assessment, every alliance member achieved or surpassed the original 2% spending target established in 2014 during the previous year, with numerous countries implementing significant budget increases.

Alliance leadership established new financial commitments at last year’s summit, requiring 5% of gross domestic product dedicated to defense and security investments by 2035.

The framework divides spending into two categories: 3.5% of GDP for traditional military needs like personnel and equipment, plus 1.5% for broader security measures including cybersecurity, infrastructure protection for pipelines, and upgrading transportation networks for military use.

According to the report’s calculations, three alliance members – Poland, Lithuania and Latvia – have already surpassed the enhanced 3.5% benchmark last year.

Multiple nations including Spain, Canada and Belgium currently meet the baseline 2% requirement.

Collectively, the 32-nation alliance allocated 2.77% of GDP toward defense in 2025.

American spending represented approximately 60% of total alliance defense expenditures in 2025.