Europe Discusses 3 Percent Target for Defense Spending

European members of nato want to increase the alliance’s defense spending target from 2 percent to 3 percent of gross domestic product, the Financial Times reported on December 11.

European foreign ministers started discussions last week. They envision a short-term goal of 2.5 percent and a target of 3 percent by 2030. The commitments are set to be formally agreed on in June at nato’s annual summit in the Netherlands.

Pressured: Donald Trump’s demand for Europe to pay more for its own defense, along with the urgency to deter Russia, has prompted European nations to look for ways to boost defense spending. Only 23 of nato’s 32 members will reach the existing 2 percent target this year, which many agree is still far from enough.

Russia is preparing for long-term confrontation, with Ukraine and with us. … We are not ready for what is coming our way in four to five years. It is time to shift to a wartime mindset and turbocharge our defense production and defense spending.
—Mark Rutte, nato secretary general

European superpower: The combined pressures of Russia’s aggression and Trump’s return are prompting Europe to increase defense spending to levels not seen since the Cold War. Bible prophecy shows a powerful and unified European superpower is about to emerge.

To learn about these prophecies, read “Russia’s War on Ukraine Is Reshaping Europe.”