NATO has long had an informal requirement that its members spend 2% of GDP on defense. However, despite decades of urging by successive US presidents, many member states have consistently fallen short of that target. Then came Donald Trump, who has threatened to withhold US military support, or pull out of NATO all together, if countries didn’t step up. Many countries have gotten the message. Here’s a look at how defense spending has changed among NATO members between 2014 and 2024.
Graphic Truth: Which NATO members meet the mark?
By Riley CallananJune 12, 2025
Riley Callanan
Riley is a writer and reporter for GZERO. When she isn’t writing about global politics, you can find her making GZERO’s crossword puzzles, conducting research on American politics, or persisting in her lifelong quest to learn French. Riley spends her time outside of work grilling, dancing, and wearing many hats (both literally and figuratively).
