BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 7, Five NATO member states are projected to spend more than 3.5 percent of their gross domestic product on core defence in 2026, according to updated NATO estimates released ahead of the alliance's summit in Ankara, Türkiye.
The new figures also indicate that some NATO members are still expected to allocate only around 2 percent of GDP to core defence spending this year.
At last year's NATO summit in The Hague, allied leaders agreed to raise the target for core defence spending from 2 percent to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2035. The target covers key military expenditures, including weapons procurement, troop readiness and other essential defence capabilities.
In addition, NATO members committed to investing another 1.5 percent of GDP in broader defence-related priorities, including cybersecurity and other resilience measures.
The increase in defence spending comes as alliance members continue to face pressure from US President Donald Trump to strengthen their military investments and meet NATO commitments.
