NATO Spending Watch: Allies Lag on 5% Target Ahead of Ankara Review
NATO members pledged to devote 5% of GDP to defense by 2035, but several allies—Spain (~2%), the UK (~2.6% with a gap to 3.5%), Hungary (~2%), the Czech Republic (~2% via a highway upgrade), Slovenia (~2% with accounting concerns), and Italy (~2.8%)—are lagging or relying on questionable accounting. A classified NATO review ahead of the Ankara summit will assess progress and the credibility of spending plans as the U.S. presses for greater burden-sharing and European defense responsibility.