{"id":10732,"date":"2025-08-04T14:57:57","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T11:57:57","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-08-04T14:58:30","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T11:58:30","slug":"nato-countries-bordering-russia-increase-military-spending-by-32","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harici.com.tr\/en\/nato-countries-bordering-russia-increase-military-spending-by-32\/","title":{"rendered":"NATO countries bordering Russia increase military spending by 32%"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute<\/a><\/span> (SIPRI), the military spending of the NATO “belt” countries bordering Russia increased by 32% in 2024, rising from $88.5 billion to $116.6 billion.<\/p>\n

The share of GDP these countries allocated to defense was 1.7% in 2021, increasing to 2.1% in 2023 and reaching 2.5% in 2024. This growth rate is significantly above the alliance’s overall average, which saw spending increase by 12% in one year.<\/p>\n

Of the 12 NATO countries extending from T\u00fcrkiye to Norway with a land or sea border with Russia, Belarus, or Ukraine, 10 joined the organization after 1999 as part of the alliance’s eastward expansion waves.<\/p>\n

Border spending increased by a third<\/strong><\/p>\n

Among these countries, Poland had the highest defense spending in 2024 at $38 billion, a 44% increase compared to 2023. Poland was followed by T\u00fcrkiye, which increased its spending by 28% to $25 billion, and Sweden, with a 38% increase to $12 billion.<\/p>\n

Ukraine’s military budget for 2024 was set at $65 billion, with two-thirds of this amount, $41 billion, covered by foreign financial aid. Including $44 billion in Western military shipments, Ukraine’s total military budget reached $109 billion (57% of its GDP).<\/p>\n

When Ukraine is included, the total spending of this NATO “belt” reaches $226 billion. This figure is one and a half times greater than Russia’s spending, which SIPRI estimates at $149 billion for 2024.<\/p>\n

Looking at the period since 2021, the defense budgets of NATO countries bordering Russia have risen from $47 billion to $87 billion in three years.<\/p>\n

The increase relative to the economy was 0.8% of GDP. Poland, in particular, increased its spending from 2.2% to 4.2% of GDP, surpassing even the US in this regard and becoming the most militarized member of the alliance.<\/p>\n

Kyiv’s total military budget, including foreign military aid, increased from $10 billion to $118 billion.<\/p>\n

NATO’s 5% target: “Unfeasible”<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the NATO summit in June, member countries committed to allocating 5% of their GDP to defense by 2035.<\/p>\n

This commitment requires at least 3.5% of GDP to be spent on basic armament needs, with the remaining 1.5% dedicated to infrastructure protection, civil defense, innovation, and the development of the military-industrial complex.<\/p>\n

However, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles stated on June 27 that this target is “absolutely unfeasible.”<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also added that a 5% expenditure would be wasteful, stating, “Spain will spend 2.1% of its GDP on defense, no more, no less.”<\/p>\n

“There is no industry that can meet either 5% or 3.5%; neither the American nor, of course, the European industry,” Robles said. As an example, the minister pointed to the Patriot missile systems that Spain ordered in 2024 but will not receive before 2030.<\/p>\n

In 2024, the defense spending of 14 of the 32 member countries remained below the previously agreed-upon target of 2% of GDP. Europe’s average spending rose from 1.65% of GDP in 2021 to 2.02% in 2024. US spending remained stable at 3.4% of GDP.<\/p>\n

“Russian threat” rhetoric and spending plans<\/strong><\/p>\n

The arms buildup in Europe is escalating alongside rhetoric about the “Russian threat.” At the June summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said, “Russia is increasing and restructuring its armed forces at a surprising speed.”<\/p>\n

“In three, five, or seven years, Russia could successfully attack us. That is why we must be prepared,” Rutte added, emphasizing the need to increase military spending.<\/p>\n

In contrast, Russia plans to reduce its military spending over the next three years. Following the statements from NATO officials in June, Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked, “Everyone [in the government] is thinking in this direction. Europe, on the other hand, is thinking about how to increase its spending. So, who is preparing for aggressive actions? Us or them?”<\/p>\n

Putin continued, “If everything of ours is falling apart, how do we intend to attack NATO? They are talking nonsense, and they absolutely do not believe it themselves. But they are trying to convince their own people. Why? To extract more money from people and make them accept the heavy burden of spending in the social sphere.”<\/p>\n

In March, the European Union approved a rearmament plan called ReArm Europe<\/em> worth \u20ac800 billion. According to the program, financing for this plan is intended to come from aid programs for the EU’s less developed regions, raising budget deficit and public debt thresholds, and more actively attracting private capital.<\/p>\n

NATO Secretary General Rutte stressed the need to establish additional production lines, stating that the priorities are ammunition, maneuverable ground forces, long-range missiles, and air defense systems.<\/p>\n

“You can raise taxes, increase debt, or find savings elsewhere. But that is the job of national politicians, not mine. All I have to do is make sure we have what we need so that we don’t collectively have to take Russian language courses,” Rutte suggested.<\/p>\n

France’s military spending as a proportion of GDP rose from 1.98% in 2021 to 2.05% in 2024.<\/p>\n