Five NATO members are projected to meet the alliance's goal of spending 3.5% of gross domestic product on core defense already in 2026, according to updated NATO data published on Tuesday ahead of a leaders' summit in Ankara, which also showed some members are still expected to spend only about 2%.

Berlin aims to hit NATO's defence spending goal six years early

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will insist at this week’s alliance summit that member states are keeping their promise to boost defense spending.