WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday the NATO alliance should weigh throwing Spain out of its membership ranks over a dispute about the Western European nation's lagging military spending. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.
They have been pretty vocal about not being able to afford the 5% GDP spending target.
5%??? That’s insane isn’t it supposed to be 2?
A NATO summit earlier this year increased it. Basically over the next few years, NATO countries will have to spend more on defense. The 5% isn’t all direct military funding though. Some infrastructure that contributes indirectly to defense can be counted toward the 5%.
It became 2% after the Russian invasion of Crimea, but it was increased to 3.5% (+1.5% infrastructure) this year, due to threats from both Trump and Putin.
5% but 3% can be fulfilled with infrastructure spending like roads and bridges that can support tanks