
WARSAW (ANP) – Estonia is pushing for an increase in defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, according to Minister Tsahkna. “This is in line with NATO’s defense strategies for Europe,” he stated.
Recently, the Estonian government approved a plan to allocate 5.4 percent of its GDP to defense starting next year.
Currently, NATO’s defense spending benchmark stands at 2 percent, which not all member countries meet. U.S. President Donald Trump has advocated for raising this standard to 5 percent. NATO leader Mark Rutte supports the idea as well but suggests that 1.5 percentage points can be allocated to investments in areas like infrastructure and cybersecurity.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof noted that Rutte aims for all NATO nations to adopt this new 5 percent standard by 2032.
Schoof has consistently emphasized the need for increased defense investments. “I have always been clear on this matter. However, it doesn’t mean we should hastily agree to the first proposal from the NATO Secretary-General. We need to deliberate on this collectively,” the Prime Minister remarked.
(May 9)













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