---
title: "18 NATO Members to Commit 2% of GDP to Defense, Stoltenberg Announces"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/30326/18-nato-members-to-commit-2-of-gdp-to-defense-stoltenberg-announces
published: 2024-02-14T14:53:53Z
language: en
author: "Viorica Rusica"
section: "International"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# 18 NATO Members to Commit 2% of GDP to Defense, Stoltenberg Announces

> 18 NATO members are on track to meet the alliance's target of spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence in 2024, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Wednesday.

18 NATO members are on track to meet the alliance's target of spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence in 2024, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced on Wednesday.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/70d59c50-2cb1-4258-be8e-7ce7d0e8b2f5.jpg)

*"I expect that this year 18 allies will spend 2% of their GDP on defence,"* Stoltenberg said ahead of a meeting of NATO defence ministers. He noted that in 2014, only three NATO members were spending 2% of their GDP on defence.

**The increase in defence spending comes amid heightened tensions with Russia** following its invasion of Ukraine. Stoltenberg said that the additional investments will help to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence capabilities.

*"We are making real progress, European allies are spending more,"* Stoltenberg said. *"But some allies still have a long way to go."*

**The 2% target was set by NATO leaders at a summit in Wales in 2014**. At the time, only four allies – the United States, the United Kingdom, Greece, and Estonia – were meeting the target.

**The United States has long been a vocal critic of NATO allies** who do not meet the 2% target. Former President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to withdraw U.S. support from NATO if allies did not increase their defence spending.

**The increase in defence spending by NATO allies is a significant development,** and it is likely to be welcomed by the United States. It is also a sign of the growing commitment of European allies to their own defence.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**