Earlier US President threatened not to protect NATO members if they fail to meet spending targets, raising doubts about his commitment to the alliance's Article 5 mutual defence clause.
The US Secretary of State's statement is in line with Trump's demand that members increase defence spending. He has often complained that US is paying more than its fair share.
SIPRI’s latest data on Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2024, shows China spent $314 bn on its military in 2024, India spent $86.1 bn, while Pakistan spent $10.2 bn.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the plan Tuesday ahead of an emergency European Council meeting on 6 March. It also proposes a €150 bn common defence fund.
Defence spending saw an annual increase of 9 percent between 2013-14 & 2025-26, a PRS analysis, published on 4 Feb, showed. In FY 2025-26, Centre allocated Rs 6,81,210 cr to the MoD.
The biggest increase in defence allocation is in the pension category—it constitutes 23.60 percent of the total allocation and stands at Rs 1,60,795 crore.
While we talk much about our military, we don’t put our national wallet where our mouth is. Nobody is saying we should double our defence spending, but current declining trend must be reversed.
It said that NATO member countries’ spending totaled 55% of world’s expenditure. Top spenders into 2023 were US, China & Russia, said Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
NATO, in a policy document adopted during leaders' summit in Madrid last week, said China's 'coercive policies challenge' interests, security and values of member states.
SEBI probe concluded that purported loans and fund transfers were paid back in full and did not amount to deceptive market practices or unreported related party transactions.
A common thread runs through the memories of soldiers of the 1965 war—ingenuity, courage and camaraderie that withstood an apparently technologically superior foe.
Many really smart people now share the position that playing cricket with Pakistan is politically, strategically and morally wrong. It is just a poor appreciation of competitive sport.
COMMENTS