NATO Allies Set 5 Percent GDP Defence Spending Target by 2035
NATO member countries agreed at the 2025 summit to reach 5 percent of GDP in combined defence and security spending by 2035. The new target replaces the earlier 2 percent guideline adopted in 2014.
ukdefencejournal.org.ukNATO Allies agreed at the 2025 summit in The Hague to invest 5 percent of annual GDP on core defence requirements and defence- and security-related spending by 2035. 5 percent of GDP for NATO-defined defence expenditures to meet capability targets. 5 percent may cover critical infrastructure protection, network defence, civil preparedness, innovation, and the defence industrial base.
Allies had previously pledged 2 percent of GDP at the 2014 Wales Summit. That pledge followed Russia's annexation of Crimea and instability in the Middle East. In 2025 every NATO member met or exceeded the 2 percent target. Only three Allies had reached that level in 2014.
Canada raised defence spending 20 percent from 2024 levels. S. 3 percent of their collective GDP. NATO also tracks the share of defence budgets spent on major equipment and research. The 2014 pledge set a 20 percent guideline for this category to support modernisation and avoid equipment obsolescence.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
3 events- 2014
NATO adopted 2 percent GDP defence spending guideline at Wales Summit.
1 source@NATO - 2025
All NATO members met or exceeded 2 percent GDP defence spending target.
1 source@NATO - 2025
Allies agreed at The Hague summit to reach 5 percent GDP spending by 2035.
1 source@NATO
Potential Impact
- 01
Allies will submit annual plans showing incremental progress toward the 5 percent target.
- 02
Higher equipment spending may reduce risk of obsolescence and capability gaps.
Transparency Panel
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