EU reports record-high defense spending
Photo: EU countries report record defense spending (wikimedia.org)
In 2024, European Union countries spent a record €343 billion on defense. According to the plan, spending will increase further next year, according to the European Defense Agency (EDA).
Defense spending increased by 19% compared to 2023. Defense spending as a share of GDP reached 1.9%, which is only 0.1% less than NATO's previous target of 2%.
At the same time, according to the agency's forecasts, in 2025, the total amount of EU defense spending will increase to €381 billion, and its share of GDP will exceed the 2% threshold, reaching 2.1%.
Previously, NATO's minimum target for member countries was 2% of GDP. However, in June this year, the Alliance, which includes most EU countries, decided to raise the target to 5% of GDP by 2035.
In addition to the overall increase in spending, 2024 also set a record for investment in research, development, and military equipment procurement. For the first time, this figure exceeded €100 billion, reaching €106 billion. In annual terms, the increase was 42%.
Europe strengthens its army
Earlier, Ukraine's allies in Europe announced that they plan to ask the European Union for loans worth tens of billions of euros to purchase weapons for Kyiv and to upgrade their own armed forces.
In addition, Bundeswehr Inspector General Carsten Breuer previously emphasized that Germany should increase its number of soldiers to 460,000. This includes both reservists and active military personnel.
According to him, this number of soldiers can be achieved through either voluntary or compulsory military service.
Poland is also preparing for a large-scale military qualification in 2026, with more than 200,000 people being called up for medical examination. The summons will not only be sent to men.
