Military spending of NATO countries 2024

The United States is, by far, the country that has the highest military spending of NATO countries, accounting for over 967.7 billion U.S. dollars of the combined NATO military defence spending of 1.47 trillion dollars. By contrast, the other 31 member states of NATO combined spent approximately 506.7 billion dollars on defence, highlighting the key position the U.S. holds in the alliance. The NATO alliance was formed in aftermath of World War Two, with the aim of deterring Soviet Expansion into Western Europe.

NATO at 75

In 2024, having lasted for 75 years, NATO is arguably the world's most successful military alliance. Since its founding in 1949, the alliance has expanded from 12 countries to 32, with the two most recent additions (Finland and Sweden) a direct consequence of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Although to some extent, the invasion has given NATO a clear sense of purpose, it has also exposed divisions within the alliance. The most serious of these as far as NATO is concerned is the potential re-election of Donald Trump as U.S. President. A frequent critic of NATO, particularly to member states who spend a lower share of their GDP on defence, Trump's actions if re-elected will be crucial in determining the future of the alliance. 

NATO after the Cold War

After the fall of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the concentration of NATO’s military resources were focused elsewhere. Interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo, followed by the War in Afghanistan, saw a large rise in the defense spending of some NATO countries. In particular, defense spending by the United States rose dramatically between 2001 and 2011, rising from 312 billion U.S. dollars to 711 billion U.S. dollars. While the mid-2010s saw a noticeable decline in defence spending as a share of GDP, among member states, this trend was revered following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.