As Russia makes gains on the battlefield in Ukraine and tensions between China and the West escalate, a record 23 of NATO’s 32 member states will meet the military alliance’s defense spending target this year, Secretary said General Jens Stoltenberg, a more than twofold increase compared to before. the Ukraine war.
“The Europeans are increasing their defense spending to record levels,” the NATO chief said Monday in a speech to a Washington think tank, noting that just five years ago fewer than 10 member states spent 2% of gross domestic product on defense. spent. .
He also praised both European allies and Canada for providing about half of the military aid flowing to Kiev, while proposing a long-term financial commitment of at least 40 billion euros a year for Ukraine as the alliance seeks to institutionalize its support . for the war-torn country.
