Europe scrambles to boost security

European leaders are looking at ways to increase their defence
spending amid concerns about an aggressive Russia and
Washington’s shifting stance on support for Ukraine


EUROPEAN NATO ALLIES
Estimated defence spending, 2024
(% of GDP*)
3% and above
2%-2.9%
Less than 2%


SWEDEN
NORWAY
DENMARK
NED
UK
BELGIUM
LUX
PORTUGAL
SPAIN
FRANCE
CZECH REP.
GERMANY
SLOVENIA
ITALY
CROATIA
MONTENEGRO
POLAND
ALBANIA
NORTH MACEDONIA
RUSSIA
FINLAND
ESTONIA
LATVIA
LITHUANIA
SLOVAKIA
UKRAINE
HUNGARY
ROMANIA
BULGARIA
TURKEY
GREECE

*NATO allies are
expected to spend
at least 2%


EUROPE’S LARGEST ARMIES: Estimated active personnel, 2024 (000s)

Türkiye 481 
Poland 216 
France 205
Germany 186
Italy 171
UK 138
Spain 117
Greece 111 
Romania 67
Ukraine 880 

Russia 1,500
(up to 617
in Ukraine)


Sources: BBC, IISS, NATO, VOA 
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