U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin called on Tuesday for an increase in overall U.S. defense spending, emphasizing that it should not drop below 3 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), according to local media reports.
Speaking to reporters in Stuttgart, Germany, home to the headquarters of the U.S. Africa Command, Austin stated, “I believe the United States needs to invest more in the capabilities of our military to address current and future challenges.”
He also urged North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members to raise their defense spending to 5 percent of GDP, more than double the current target of 2 percent. “The security of the European continent requires substantial investment from those within the region,” Austin said. “It’s essential that our allies contribute their fair share to ensure peace and stability.”
However, several European leaders expressed skepticism about the feasibility of such an increase. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed his commitment to NATO’s spending goals but indicated that a jump to 5 percent of GDP would be challenging. For Germany, this would represent over €200 billion ($204 billion) annually, nearly half of its federal budget.
Austin also addressed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, reiterating support for a peaceful resolution. When asked whether the U.S. would consider deploying troops to Ukraine, he responded, “We are committed to supporting Ukraine, but we have no plans to send U.S. forces into the country.”
In December 2023, the U.S. Congress approved the $895 billion National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal year 2024, marking a one percent increase from the previous year. According to the World Bank, citing data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the U.S. spent approximately 3.4 percent of its GDP on defense in 2022.
