As reported by the online media Suspilne.
Sweden has expressed support for the initiative to increase NATO countries’ defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product by 2030. Of this amount, 3.5% is planned to be spent on traditional defense needs, and 1.5% on other defense-related expenses. This was announced by Sweden’s Minister of Defense, Pål Jonson, during a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.
“We would like to see NATO countries’ spending reach 5 percent by 2030, with 3.5 percent dedicated to traditional defense expenditures and 1.5 percent to defense-related costs. We want to have an ambitious and forward-looking defense investment plan. Today, we will also focus on new goals for the development of forces and capabilities that all alliance members aspire to.”
The minister noted that Sweden adopted a defense bill last December, demonstrating the country’s correct course toward addressing shortcomings identified in Europe, particularly regarding land forces, air defense, and stock replenishment.
Jonson also announced the allocation of 50 million euros to support the NSATU fund (NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine) and the NATO Comprehensive Assistance Package.
“We are currently very focused on deploying our support for Ukraine so that Ukraine can negotiate from a position of strength. We would also welcome commitments regarding strategic partners, including Ukraine, which we believe are also defense investments, because supporting Ukraine is an investment in our own security. Therefore, there are some things that, in my view, would naturally be included in the 1.5 percent of defense-related investments.”
In January, U.S. President Donald Trump called on NATO countries to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, emphasizing that most countries do not even meet the previously agreed 2%. He noted that the U.S. covers this difference, which is “unfair.”
On June 5, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that North Atlantic Alliance countries must increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP by the NATO summit scheduled for June 24–25 in The Hague.
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- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegset urges NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP ahead of the June summit in The Hague.
