Mon Feb 17 16:03:24 UTC 2025: ## Europe in Emergency Talks as US Military Spending Soars and Trump Pushes for Increased European Defence Budgets
**PARIS** – European leaders are holding an emergency summit in Paris to address US President Donald Trump’s unilateral negotiations with Russia over the Ukraine war, bypassing European allies. The meeting follows the Munich Security Conference, where US Vice President JD Vance reiterated Trump’s demand for significantly increased European defence spending, urging NATO members to allocate 5% of their GDPs to defence.
This comes amidst a global surge in military expenditure. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), global military spending hit a record $2.44 trillion in 2023, a 6.8% increase from the previous year – the largest annual rise since 2009. This represents a staggering $306 per person globally, compared to just $130 in 2000.
The United States remains the world’s largest military spender, allocating $880 billion in 2023 – exceeding the combined spending of the next eight largest military powers. This massive expenditure underscores the widening gap between US military capabilities and those of its European allies.
NATO, facing pressure to increase its collective defence capabilities, saw a rise in spending among its members in 2024, with 23 out of 32 members now meeting the alliance’s 2% GDP target for defence spending. However, Trump’s actions and demands highlight ongoing transatlantic tensions regarding burden-sharing and strategic decision-making within the alliance. The emergency summit aims to coordinate a European response to Trump’s actions and the broader implications for European security.
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