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French Minister Lescure Discusses NATO Budget Contributions at Semafor Summit
Roland Lescure, French Minister of Economics and Finance, stated during a Semafor World Economy summit session that he hopes the U.S. does not withdraw from NATO. He noted the European Union's 60% contribution to NATO's budget and emphasized the need for transatlantic partnership.
Apr 14, 9:16 PM·1m read1 source
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# French Minister Discusses NATO Contributions at Semafor Summit Roland Lescure, French Minister of Economics and Finance, spoke at the 'The Future of Capitalism' session on the second day of the Semafor World Economy summit. D.C. The session occurred on Tuesday.
Hadley Gamble, IMI Chief International Anchor, interviewed Lescure during the event. U.S. may pull out of NATO. U.S. departed NATO after 77 years. Lescure said, "You know there’s two things, And you know who contributes the most to the budget of NATO?
U.S. contributed about 16% to NATO’s direct operating budget in 2024. Germany contributed about 16% to NATO’s direct operating budget in 2024. NATO’s direct budget contributions from member states are preset and proportional to their respective gross national income, per NATO’s website.
U.S. " Lescure answered, "No, I don’t think any of us do. U.S.
has done, which Europe has not done enough of, is defense spending. U.S. spent just shy of one trillion dollars on its defense budget in that year, according to World Population Review. 5 billion on defense that year.
Seventeen NATO member states each spent less than $10 billion on defense that year. Three NATO member states spent less than $1 billion on defense that year. These figures come from World Population Review.
U.S. and France have been friends for 250 years. He said, "And we have to remember that every day.
Lescure is a member of French President Emmanuel Macron’s party Renaissance.
" Gamble asked Lescure if he was 'encouraged' by the Sunday landslide defeat of longtime Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The interview formed part of the broader discussion on global economic and security ties. The article covering the session was published on April 14, 2026, at 9:16 PM ET.
