NATO Countries Compete To Boost Military Expenditures Amid Global Uncertainty

US/ILUSTRASI military/PHOTO via Instagram @usairforce

JAKARTA - NATO members are discussing setting spending targets for civil defense and support for Ukraine in addition to the core goals of the military budget.

Many NATO members have stepped up military spending since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but they are under pressure from US President Donald Trump to go further and spend 5% of GDP on defense - above their current target of 2%.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said a summit of NATO leaders in The Hague in June could approve a defense spending target of more than 3% of GDP, along with a second target for wider spending on security and defense.

"There are ongoing discussions, which we haven't seen yet, regarding whether NATO, in line with its target figures for military defense, should have a target number for civil defense, preparedness, support for Ukraine and things like that," he said. April.

The defense spending target can be set at 3.5% with an additional 1.5% for matters related to civil defense, Ukrainian support and other things outside the immediate military defense area.

According to NATO estimates, 23 of the 32 alliance members met or exceeded last year's 2% target.

However, several major European economies, including Italy and Spain, spent only about 1.5% and 1.3%, respectively. Sweden became the 32nd NATO member in March last year in a change in the course of foreign policy sparked by concerns over Russia.

"I am very determined to ensure that we in Sweden fulfill our NATO-decided commitments," Kristersson said. A European diplomat said discussions on the spending targets for the Hague summit had just begun, but there appears to be an understanding of the targets for the new military capability set by NATO would mean spending about 3.5% of GDP.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the diplomat said meeting Trump's figure of 5% would require additional elements, including "enhancing military resilience and mobility".