NATO Allies Increasing Defense Spending by 18%, Biggest Jump in Decades, Secretary-General Says

09:39, 18 June 2024

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WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is in Washington, laying the groundwork for the upcoming NATO leaders summit in the US capital that is scheduled for July 9-11. The NATO chief will also meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday.

Sputnik

NATO allies this year are going to increase defense spending by 18%, NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg said ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House.

"They show that across Europe and Canada, our NATO allies are this year increasing defense spending by 18%. That's the biggest increase in decades," Stoltenberg said on Monday.

He added that 23 allies are going to spend 2% of GDP or more on defense, which is double the number compared to four years ago.

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