NATO's massive budget revealed: Defense spending to exceed $1.8 trillion in 2026

NATO has shared its member countries' projected defense spending for 2026 with the public. According to the data, the total defense expenditures of alliance members are expected to reach $1 trillion 809 billion 915 million, an increase of approximately 11 percent compared to last year.

The figures released indicate that the upward trend in NATO countries' defense budgets is continuing.

NOTABLE INCREASE OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS

According to NATO data, the alliance's total defense spending stood at $1 trillion 482 billion 905 million in 2024.

While this figure is stated to have risen to $1 trillion 629 billion 630 million in 2025, total spending for 2026 is estimated to climb to $1 trillion 809 billion 915 million.

U.S. LEADS BY A WIDE MARGIN

According to the data, the U.S. will continue to have the highest defense spending within NATO in 2026.

The U.S. defense budget is expected to be $1 trillion 32 billion 849 million, a figure projected to account for approximately 57 percent of NATO's total defense spending.

The countries expected to have the highest defense spending after the U.S. are listed as follows:

Germany: $147 billion

United Kingdom: $110 billion

France: $80 billion

Italy: $57 billion

Poland: $53 billion

Canada: $52 billion

Turkey's defense spending for 2026 is estimated to reach the $48 billion level.

LITHUANIA LEADS IN RATIO TO NATIONAL INCOME

According to NATO projections, five member countries are expected to see their core defense spending exceed 3.5 percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2026.

Lithuania will rank first in the ratio of defense spending to national income at 5.33 percent.

Lithuania will be followed by the following countries:

Estonia: 5.10 percent

Latvia: 4.92 percent

Poland: 4.68 percent

Greece: 3.65 percent

Denmark: 3.49 percent

Sweden: 3.22 percent

Turkey's ratio of defense spending to GDP is projected to be at the 2.85 percent level in 2026.

NATO AVERAGE WILL BE 2.86 PERCENT

According to the released projections, the U.S. defense spending-to-GDP ratio is expected to be 3.17 percent in 2026.

For other major NATO members, this ratio is estimated to be;

2.69 percent in Germany,

2.56 percent in the United Kingdom,

2.22 percent in France,

2.10 percent in Italy.

The average defense spending across NATO is projected to reach 2.86 percent of GDP.

The average defense spending across NATO is projected to reach 2.86 percent of GDP.

LOWEST SHARE FROM SLOVENIA

According to NATO data, the country expected to allocate the lowest share of its national income to defense will be Slovenia at 1.61 percent.

Following Slovenia, Belgium and Spain are estimated to be at the bottom of the list with defense spending at the 2 percent level.

17 COUNTRIES EXPECTED TO MEET THE TARGET

The data also stated that 17 NATO members are expected to meet the target of 1.5 percent of GDP set for defense and security-related investments in 2026.

NEW TARGET SET AT THE HAGUE SUMMIT

NATO leaders agreed on new defense targets at the summit held in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2025.

According to the decision, member countries aim to increase their core defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2035, and in addition, allocate 1.5 percent of GDP for defense and security-related investments. In line with this decision, the goal is for total defense and security spending to reach 5 percent of GDP.