NATO Secretary General, Jens StoltenbergIn particular, given the current geopolitical situation, it announced new negotiations with member states on the defense budget increase this Tuesday.
“Some allies favor raising and minimizing the 2 percent target” pointed out before confirming that he would moderate such conversations. We will meet, we will hold talks at the ministerial level, we will talk about money,” he said.
He stated that he was certain in this sense. Member States will be able to reach an agreement before the next summit, scheduled for 11 and 12 July in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania.
At this time, NATO members should contribute as much as possible. To allocate at least 2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product to Defense by 2024, An issue that was decided upon in Wales after Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014.
But Stoltenbergyou did not specify which allies are currently requesting an increase in this ceiling, has already been referred to as “threshold” on previous occasions. Countries such as Poland, Lithuania and the United Kingdom have recently been in favor of an agreement to increase funding, taking into account the advance of Russian troops in Ukraine.
However, Germany, Canada and Belgium, among others, have expressed their rejection of this measure as they invest less than 2 percent of their GDP in Defense. Dispute over raising this budget has escalated especially under the mandate of former US President Donald Trump, who has accused the German government and other European allies of threatening the United States with pulling out of the alliance.