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.
The Italian term sprezzatura—a studied nonchalance that conceals intention—best captures the spirit of Trump’s foreign policy so far. The pattern is unpredictability, transactionalism, and disruption as diplomacy.
With 20.2 percent of its total loans in default by the end of last year, Bangladesh had the weakest banking system in Asia. Despite reforms, it will take time to recover.
Bihar is blessed with a land more fertile for revolutions than any in India. Why has it fallen so far behind then? Constant obsession with politics is at the root of its destruction.
COMMENTS