After Donald Trump’s complaints about spending on NATO – warning he would let Russia “do regardless of the hell they need” to members he deems do not pay sufficient for defence – here is a fast take a look at how the alliance is funded.
How a lot does the US spend?
The US spends way over any of the opposite 30 member states on defence, with NATO’s information displaying the nation spent $860bn (£682bn) in 2023 – which is 3.49% of its GDP, a measure of the overall wealth of a rustic.
The subsequent highest contributor by way of gross quantity paid is Germany, which spent $68bn (£54bn), adopted by the UK at $65bn (£51.5bn).
For the UK, that represents 2.07% of its GDP, however for Germany that is 1.57%.
Non-US allies collectively spend lower than half of what the US spends on defence.
As a world superpower, the US has pursuits internationally, that means its spending additionally covers areas past the Euro-Atlantic.
It is usually the richest nation, which partly explains why its contribution is a lot greater.
“This imbalance has been a relentless, with variations, all through the historical past of the alliance and has grown extra pronounced for the reason that tragic occasions of 11 September 2001, after which the US considerably elevated its defence spending,” NATO says.
“The quantity of US defence expenditure represents roughly two thirds of the defence spending of the alliance as an entire.”
Nevertheless, operating prices are shared between members.
What concerning the 2% spending rule?
NATO’s 31 members have agreed on a goal of spending at the least 2% of GDP on defence, however the alliance’s personal estimates present solely 11 are spending that a lot.
The two% determine is described as a tenet by NATO and it’s not obligatory – although the alliance says it “serves as an indicator of a rustic’s political will to contribute to NATO’s frequent defence efforts”.
In response to Russia’s unlawful annexation of Crimea and the turmoil within the Center East in 2014, NATO leaders agreed allies assembly the two% guideline ought to goal to proceed to take action.
Members whose present proportion of GDP spent on defence is beneath this stage, in the meantime, ought to halt any decline and goal to extend spending as GDP grows.
They need to goal to maneuver in the direction of the two% guideline inside a decade – this yr.
What does the US do – and what profit does it get?
The alliance depends on the US for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in addition to air-to-air refuelling, ballistic missile defence and airborne electromagnetic warfare.
Nicholas Williams, a former official on the UK Ministry of Defence and NATO, informed Sky Information the alliance offers the US “an enormous quantity of profit” and political help.
