NATO’s Balkan members met the alliance’s 2% of GDP defense spending target for the first time last year, but most remain among the lowest spenders compared with frontline states near Russia, according to the bloc’s annual report.
All 32 members of the alliance reached the benchmark in 2025, a milestone NATO set more than a decade ago. However, the data highlights wide disparities in military spending levels, with countries in Southeast Europe clustering near the minimum threshold.
Among Balkan allies, Romania spent about 2.2% of GDP on defense, while North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Croatia and Montenegro each allocated around 2.1%, placing them in the lower tier of contributors. Albania and Slovenia were among those spending the bare minimum 2%.
The figures contrast sharply with higher spending by eastern flank states such as Poland and the Baltic countries, which have boosted defense budgets to between roughly 3% and over 4% of GDP in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the increase in spending reflected a broader shift among European allies toward taking greater responsibility for their own security, after years of reliance on the United States.
“For too long, European allies and Canada were over-reliant on U.S. military might,” Rutte said while presenting the report. “There has been a real shift in mindset.”
Total defense spending by NATO members reached about $1.4 trillion last year, driven in part by sustained pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly urged allies to increase military budgets.
Despite the progress, diplomats say the gap between minimum compliance and higher levels of readiness remains a concern, particularly as NATO has agreed to raise its collective target to 5% of GDP by 2035.
Countries such as Hungary and the Czech Republic formally met the 2% goal but saw declines in real spending compared with the previous year, raising questions about the sustainability of their commitments.
A NATO diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said “fair burden sharing remains an issue,” adding that there is still time for lagging members to increase contributions before the new 2035 target takes effect.
The debate over defense spending comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, including the war in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East, which have underscored the need for stronger military capabilities across the alliance.
While Balkan members have made steady progress in meeting NATO benchmarks, analysts say further increases will be needed to close the gap with higher-spending allies and to strengthen the alliance’s overall deterrence posture.