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military spending

U.S. President Donald Trump, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at a NATO leaders summit in The Hague, Netherlands June 25, 2025.
GZERO North

Three takeaways from the NATO summit

The two-day NATO summit at the Hague wrapped on Wednesday. The top line? At an event noticeably scripted to heap flattery on Donald Trump, alliance members agreed to the US president’s demand they boost military spending to 5% of GDP over the next decade.

​UK leaders meet to discuss European security
What We're Watching

Europe to “spend, spend, spend” on defense – but how?

EU leaders met in Brussels on Thursday to answer two big questions: How can Europe defend Ukraine in the short term and defend itself in the long term?

Graphic Truth: Cutting military spending … in half?
Graphic Truth

Graphic Truth: Cutting military spending … in half?

US President Donald Trump says he will soon meet with the leaders of Russia and China to discuss arms control and a proposal to slash all three countries’ military budgets in half. We look at the top military spenders in the world and break down what the Pentagon spends its money on.

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at Coastal Carolina University before the South Carolina Republican primary in Conway, South Carolina, on Feb. 10, 2024.
What We're Watching

Trump's censure of defense spending “delinquents” triggers public backlash

His comments sent a chill through “delinquent” nations like Canada, which spends just 1.3% of GDP on defense and which, while it has said it aims to reach the 2% target someday, has taken no concrete steps to do so.

​Trump standing in front of a sign and a rollercoaster surrounded my military personnel and supplies.
by ian bremmer

NATO’s Trump problem

Former president and likely Republican nominee Donald Trump caused a ruckus across the pond over the weekend when he said that he would encourage Russia to attack any NATO member falling short on their defense spending goals (2% of GDP or more).

​A man administers the cholera vaccine to a child at a temporary cholera treatment center set up to deal with the latest deadly cholera outbreak in Lusaka, Zambia.
Hard Numbers

HARD NUMBERS: New cholera epidemic emerges, House impeaches Mayorkas, US inflation disappoints, Global military spending soars, Oil spill “blackens” Caribbean coastline

Heat map showing percentage change in military expenditure (2021-2022), top 40 governments
News

The Graphic Truth: Who's spending more/less on defense?

We take a look at how defense expenditure changed over the past year across the top 40 biggest spenders.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and daughter Kim Ju Ae attend a military parade in Pyongyang, North Korea.
News

What We're Watching: Parade in Pyongyang, Lula in DC, China balloon capabilities

North Korea shows off ICBMs and ... a 10-year-old girl; Lula goes to the White House; US says China balloon 'equipped' to snoop

Who spends the most on the military?
Graphic Truth

The Graphic Truth: Who spends the most on the military?

How does Russia’s military investment – and active military personnel count – compare to other G20 nations? We take a look.