NATO Chief Rutte Criticizes Members That Failed to Meet 2% Defense Spending Target Last Year

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has criticized alliance members that failed to spend at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense in 2024. Rutte acknowledged, however, that NATO is receiving reports from all member countries indicating they are accelerating their defense investments. The 2% of GDP threshold has long been NATO's benchmark for member contributions to collective defense, and pressure to meet or exceed it has intensified following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Several European NATO members, including Slovakia, have historically struggled to reach the target, though the broader trend across the alliance is toward increased military spending.