In 2014, NATO member countries agreed to increase their defense spending as part of a plan to improve the alliance`s readiness and capabilities in the face of evolving security threats. The agreement, which was signed during the NATO Summit in Wales, called for each member country to work towards spending 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense by 2024.
The decision to increase defense spending was made in response to new security challenges that had emerged in recent years. NATO`s Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, stated that „we live in a more unpredictable and dangerous world” and that „NATO must be able to respond to any threat, from any direction, at any time.” The 2% target was seen as a way to ensure that member countries could contribute the necessary resources to achieve this goal.
While the 2% target was a significant increase from current spending levels for many member countries, the agreement was not legally binding. Each member country was responsible for setting its own defense spending priorities and timeline for reaching the 2% target.
As of 2021, nine NATO member countries have met or exceeded the 2% spending target: the United States, Greece, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, United Kingdom, and Bulgaria. Other member countries, including Germany, Italy, and Canada, have yet to meet the target.
The debate over defense spending within NATO has continued in recent years, with some member countries arguing that the 2% target is unrealistic or unnecessary. However, proponents of the target maintain that it is critical for ensuring NATO`s ability to respond to new security threats and maintain its role as a key global security organization.
In conclusion, the 2014 NATO agreement to increase spending on defense was a response to evolving security threats and a commitment by member countries to improve the alliance`s readiness and capabilities. While progress has been made towards meeting the 2% target, the debate over defense spending within NATO is likely to continue as member countries wrestle with competing priorities and budget constraints.