In 2024, NATO allies in Europe and Canada saw their defense expenditures rise by nearly twenty percent, with total investments amounting to four hundred eighty-five billion dollars, or roughly four hundred sixty-seven and a half billion euros.

During comments on Wednesday, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the NATO Secretary General highlighted that although two-thirds of allies currently achieve the two percent of GDP benchmark, a significantly higher level of spending is necessary to tackle capability gaps and deter possible Russian aggression.

Rutte warned that if the two percent target remains unchanged, the alliance may face inadequate defense in four to five years and proposed setting the ultimate target well above three percent of GDP. NATO's defense ministers from the thirty-two member alliance are set to convene in Brussels on Thursday, where discussions are anticipated to revolve around boosting defense budgets and establishing new military capability objectives in preparation for a summit in late June.

Furthermore, a Danish intelligence assessment has expressed concerns regarding the likelihood of a large-scale Russian assault on European NATO countries should the United States withdraw its backing, a scenario Rutte rejected, asserting that any such aggression would provoke a severe retaliation.

NATO allies have also been encouraged to maintain their support for Ukraine and to enhance military production in the upcoming months.