Estonian PM calls on NATO members to increase defense spending

NATO countries should increase their defense spending because Europe is at war again.

This was stated by Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, ERR reports.

"Kaja Kallas encouraged other NATO countries to increase their defense spending, following the example of the Baltic states, and gave the example of Estonia, whose defense spending will rise to 3.2 percent of GDP next year," the article says.

The Estonian Prime Minister clarified that she calls for an increase in defense spending at the NATO level.

"Look at 1988, when all NATO allies spent more than two percent of their GDP on defense. Why? Because they considered the threat serious. But now the threat is even greater than during the Cold War because war is back in Europe," Kallas said.

It is worth noting that according to the commitment signed in 2014, NATO countries should spend 2% of GDP on defense by 2024. However, only eight out of 31 countries are currently meeting this goal.

Author – Anastasiya Glotova, 27/09/2023