The European NATO Member States and Canada increased their defense spending by 2024 compared to 2023, Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance, announced today.

Many Member States of the Alliance are faced with pressure on the White House, as well as in his first term in the White House, US President Donald Trump, seeking to increase their defense spending.

In the face of these pressures, many countries are struggling to show the US government Trump that they have already increased their military spending, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Following the publication of today’s figures, NATO stressed that this annual 20% increase in defense spending from alliance Member States, other than the US, raised their total defense spending to over $ 485 billion.

“I am looking forward to hosting NATO’s defense ministers next week, where we will discuss more and better investments in defense,” Route said in response to Reuters’ request to comment on the latest expenditure.

NATO reported that it could not provide more information for now. However, more is expected to be made public at the meeting of the Alliance’s defense ministers, which will take place next Wednesday, which will be attended by US Secretary of Defense Pitt Hegsez for the first time.