Defense spending by European NATO countries and Canada will increase for the sixth consecutive year in 2020, with a third of countries reaching the 2% of GDP target, the Secretary General of the United Nations said on Wednesday. Nato, Jens Stoltenberg.
“
This year will be the sixth consecutive year of increased military spending by European allies and Canada, with real growth of 4.3%.
We expect this trend to continue,
”Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference on the eve of a videoconference meeting of the organization's defense ministers.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Wednesday released its members' defense spending figures.
According to these data, which are only estimates for 2019 and 2020, the United States is still expected to provide by far the biggest fiscal effort, with spending representing 3.87% of its GDP.
The NATO countries, Germany in the lead, are under budgetary pressure from US President Donald Trump, who is asking them for a more massive effort to reach the spending target of 2% of GDP.
Of the 30 member countries, 10 would be above this threshold in 2020, including Greece (2.58%), the United Kingdom (2.43%), Poland (2.30%) and France (2.11%).
They were only three last year (United States, Greece and United Kingdom).
Germany would still remain below (1.57%), just like Canada (1.45%).
Defense ministers of NATO countries are due to meet Thursday and Friday by teleconference.
Among the topics discussed, will be discussed "
the fair distribution of the
military
burden
", said Mr. Stoltenberg.
