Greece one of few countries paying its NATO dues; Trump sparks outrage

Greece is one of a few nations that are meeting their minimum NATO defence spending obligations, with the country infact exceeding it at 3.01 %.

Only 11 of NATO’s 31 members, including Greece, are projected to meet the 2% GDP defence spending target set in 2014. Despite committing to this goal following Russia’s annexation of Crimea, many countries continue to fall short, raising questions about fairness and burden-sharing within the alliance.

While NATO does have a common fund, the core of its strength lies in individual member contributions. Greece stands out as a responsible contributor, fulfilling its financial obligations and demonstrating commitment to collective defence.

Former US President Donald Trump ignited a firestorm within NATO this weekend with remarks suggesting Russia should be allowed to do whatever it wants with NATO member countries who not meeting their defence spending commitments.

While campaigning in South Carolina, Trump stated, “If countries don’t pay their fair share, I would not protect them. In fact, I would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want.” His comments drew immediate condemnation from both the White House and NATO leadership, with concerns they “promoted dangerous chaos” and undermined collective security.

Trump’s remarks, though incendiary, raise concerns about NATO’s financial sustainability and cohesion in the face of evolving security threats. While the future of the alliance remains uncertain, Greece’s commitment to meeting its obligations serves as a positive example in an environment of uneven burden-sharing.

Countries hitting 2% GDP defence spending target:

• Poland (3.9 %)
• US (3.49 %)
• Greece (3.01 %)
• Estonia (2.73 %)
• Lithuania (2.54 %)
• Finland (2.45 %)
• Romania (2.44 %)
• Hungary (2.43 %)
• Latvia (2.27 %)
• United Kingdom (2.07 %)
• Slovakia (2.03 %)

Countries missing 2% GDP defence spending target:

• France (1.9 %)
• Montenegro (1.87 %)
• North Macedonia (1.87 %)
• Bulgaria (1.84 %)
• Croatia (1.79 %)
• Albania (1.76 %)
• Netherlands (1.7 %)
• Norway (1.67 %)
• Denmark (1.65 %)
• Germany (1.57 %)
• Czech Republic (1.5 %)
• Portugal (1.48 %)
• Italy (1.46 %)
• Canada (1.38 %)
• Slovenia (1.35 %)
• Turkey (1.31 %)
• Spain (1.26 %)
• Belgium (1.26 %)