Particle.news
Download on the App Store
20 ARTICLES
·
2w ago

NATO Edges Toward Defense Spending Deal Backed by U.S. and Germany

Ministers signal support for a 5% GDP target with phased spending increases, setting the stage for a final decision at June's summit.

Image
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, talks to British Foreign Secretary David Lammy during an informal meeting of NATO's foreign ministers in Antalya, southern Turkey, Thursday, May 15, 2025.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks to journalists during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Overview

  • NATO foreign ministers met in Antalya, Turkey, to discuss a U.S. proposal to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2032.
  • Secretary-General Mark Rutte proposed a phased approach: 3.5% for core military spending and 1.5% for infrastructure and cyber-related defense.
  • Germany publicly endorsed the 5% target, with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul calling it a necessary commitment to alliance security.
  • The proposal reflects heightened concerns over threats from Russia, terrorism, and China's growing influence, with Russia's military seen as potentially rebuilding within three to five years.
  • The final decision on the spending framework will be made at NATO's June summit in The Hague, where member states face pressure to formalize commitments.