Follow us on X
About us

WASHINGTON SUMMIT ENDS PEACE ILLUSIONS ⟩ "NATO leaders now recognize that the era of peace is over."

Photo: Matt Rourke
Copy

WASHINGTON - JULY 11, 2024. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas expressed her satisfaction with the commitments made by allies during the NATO Summit defense expenditure session. "Put your money where your mouth is," she urged the remaining few allies who have not yet met the 2% minimum. The U.S., Estonia, Poland, and Lithuania are all soon to be members of an exclusive 3% club.

"We see that we are no longer in a time of peace, but our people haven't come to terms with this reality yet," Kaja Kallas quoted a colleague from an earlier NATO Summit session concerning defense expenditure.

Kallas highlighted a striking number—11, signifying the new leaders among the 32 allies at this NATO summit who were not present at last year's meeting in Vilnius. "This underscores the nature of democracies, where regular elections occur. For leaders to make critical decisions, public opinion must recognize the necessity of such choices," she elaborated.

2% Glass Ceiling got Smashed

Both Kallas and Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, who also attended the defense expenditure session of the Summit, underscored the consensus among NATO leadership on the need to increase defense spending. "It was heartening to witness today that many allies highlighted the inadequacy of merely two percent of GDP for defense spending; in light of the evolving security landscape, greater investments are imperative," Kallas stated.

"Numerous countries at the table concurred that 2.5 percent of GDP should be the baseline for defense spending," Pevkur added. "Some even suggested targets of three to four percent. The number of countries advocating for increased investment is on the rise.

Sharp Contrast with Vilnius

Kallas was critical towards certain allies who, despite acknowledging that two percent of GDP is insufficient, do not meet this minimum standard themselves. "Put your money where your mouth is," she urged. "If everyone contributed their share, we would collectively be in a much stronger position."

Pevkur recalled that even a year ago, the attitudes towards increased defense spending were markedly different. At that time, only nine or ten countries met the two percent rule. Today, there are 23. "For one year, it is remarkable progress," he observed, highlighting the expanding "three percent club," which currently includes Poland (4.12 percent of GDP), Estonia (3.43 percent of GDP), and the USA (3.38 percent of GDP), with Lithuania (currently 2.85 percent of GDP) soon to join.

"NATO’s most critical region, the eastern flank—Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland—are already investing over three percent," Pevkur pointed out.

Inclusion Boosts Commitment

"Portugal has set a clear goal of reaching two percent. The UK is moving towards 2.5 percent. We observe a significant shift in trend," added Pevkur, emphasizing the importance of the democratic process when making those decisions: "One head of state noted that in democracies, decision-making can be protracted, but once made, these decisions are robust and enduring."

Pevkur expressed optimism that by next year's NATO summit in The Hague, the final declaration might stipulate that the baseline for defense spending should be 2.5 percent of GDP: "Today, it seems the trend has taken that direction, and we might be advancing towards a higher target in The Hague."

"This is undeniably essential if we are to address the deficits accumulated over the past 30 years in ammunition stockpiles, air defenses, and numerous specific capabilities," Pevkur said. "Greater defense investment is critical in bridging these gaps, particularly as the threat from Russia persists unabated."

Copy

Terms

Top