NATO members must 'wake up' and increase spending on armed forces, Defence Secretary to say
- Rishi Sunak announced the UK will reach 2.5% of GDP of spending in 2030
The Defence Secretary will today call for NATO to 'wake up' and for its members to spend at least 2.5 per cent of their GDP on their armed forces.
Speaking at the London Defence Conference today, Grant Shapps is set to say that this scale of investment should become the new baseline for the alliance.
Under the current situation, NATO members are supposed to spend just 2.0 per cent of their GDP on defence, which may not suffice in such turbulent times.
Of the alliance's 32 states, only 11 fulfilled this obligation last year - but this is expected to rise to 18 by the end of this year.
Only eight states currently spend around 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence. Last month, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the UK will reach this level of spending in 2030.
![Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is interviewed outside the BBC Studios on Mat 19, 2024](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/21/23/85175163-13444883-image-a-169_1716332123143.jpg)
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is interviewed outside the BBC Studios on Mat 19, 2024
![Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden, who were previously neutral, applied to join NATO. British soldiers from 21 Air Assault Battery Royal Artillery in Afghanistan](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/21/23/85175181-13444883-image-a-170_1716332130385.jpg)
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden, who were previously neutral, applied to join NATO. British soldiers from 21 Air Assault Battery Royal Artillery in Afghanistan
The 2.5 per cent baseline could be adopted at NATO's 75th anniversary summit in Washington D.C. in July.
Mr Shapps will also urge European countries which benefit from NATO's protection - but do not presently belong to it - to join the alliance.
He will say: 'I will go to Washington and make the case for 2.5 per cent.
'I will also make the case for NATO to bring all those who benefit from the alliance's umbrella of protection into the organisation.
'Some European countries effectively benefit from NATO coverage - they enjoy the benefits of freedom and liberty - yet fail to sign up to the continent's collective deterrence.
'When the wolf is at the backdoor of Europe's security there should be no place for neutrality.'
![In international law, neutral states must not participate in armed conflicts with other states and should not support or favour any warring parties. Interior shot of NATO headquarters](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/21/23/85175183-13444883-image-a-171_1716332137125.jpg)
In international law, neutral states must not participate in armed conflicts with other states and should not support or favour any warring parties. Interior shot of NATO headquarters
![Mr Shapps is also due to attend a major security conference in Singapore next week. He will meet defence officials from regional allies, including Australia. British Marines run towards a Taliban position during a British commando offensive on March 18, 2007](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/21/23/85175187-13444883-image-a-172_1716332140657.jpg)
Mr Shapps is also due to attend a major security conference in Singapore next week. He will meet defence officials from regional allies, including Australia. British Marines run towards a Taliban position during a British commando offensive on March 18, 2007
Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden, who were previously neutral, applied to join NATO.
Their policy shift has left Malta, Austria, Cyprus and Ireland as Europe's last neutral states.
In international law, neutral states must not participate in armed conflicts with other states and should not support or favour any warring parties.
Despite the war in Ukraine, Ireland's lawmakers have defended its historic commitment to neutrality.
However, the country has granted asylum to more than 100,000 Ukrainians - ten times the average across the European Union.
Mr Shapps is also due to attend a major security conference in Singapore next week. He will meet defence officials from regional allies, including Australia.
The Defence Secretary added: 'I will travel there with a clear message that if our partners in the Indo-Pacific close to overlook illegal invasions in Europe it would have consequences for international security everywhere, including the Indo-Pacific where territorial disputes dot the region.'