Europeans and Canadian allies are expected to spend $634 billion (€555 billion) on defence in 2026
ANKARA – Europeans and Canada are expected to boost their defence spending by 11% in real terms this year compared to 2025, according to NATO estimates published on Tuesday, down from the 20% jump Mark Rutte had previously been citing for last year.
Overall, Europeans and Canadian allies are expected to spend $634 billion (€555 billion) on defence in 2026, up from $571 billion (€500 billion) in 2025.
NATO allies committed last year to up spending towards broad defence to 5% of GDP by 2035 with their plans to reach that new target set to be the focus of the leaders’ meeting held in Ankara on Wednesday.
This is the first time the numbers account for the 1.5% agreed last year to be spent on defence and security-related expenditure, which includes critical infrastructure, networks, civil preparedness and resilience, innovation, and bolstering the alliance’s defence industrial base, the Hague declaration shows.
