Reports are circulating that if re-elected, former President Donald Trump may require NATO members to increase their defence spending from the required two percent to three percent of GDP.
The proposal underscores what many Americans view as obvious—that our wealthy and capable European allies should take on more responsibility for their own defence. However, the goal of such a proposal should not be to increase Europe’s defence spending for the sake of increasing defence spending. The goal should be to ensure that the United States can responsibly reevaluate its outsized role in defending Europe.
As of February, 18 of the 35 members of NATO were on track to reach the two percent benchmark this year. Yet in spite of the alliance’s 11 per cent year to year increase in defence spending, some countries are woefully missing the mark. Of all members, Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg are the furthest from meeting the two percent commitment, even in light of a hot war in Europe.
Meanwhile, the United States spends approximately three percent of GDP on defence—in dollar terms, that is more than the next nine countries combined. As of 2022, and in response to the war in Ukraine, approximately 100,000 US forces were stationed in Europe, a record high since 2005. In spite of the passage of time, multiple wars, and a new geopolitical environment, there hasn’t been a serious re-evaluation of the role of the United States in NATO since its formation.
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