NATO to Increase Military Capability Targets by 30%

NATO is urging its member states to boost their military capability targets by 30%, as the alliance seeks to enhance its force posture and address critical gaps in defense. According to NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Adm. Pierre Vandier, the proposed increase has been accepted by 80% of NATO allies, with full consensus expected by the time of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, in June.

The new capability targets are focused on providing NATO with the necessary forces and capabilities to fulfill its missions, with specific asks for localized brigades, air and naval groups, and other advanced defense tools. The alliance aims for national governments to deliver the capabilities required without time constraints on meeting the targets.

However, NATO is already facing a 30% shortfall in delivering its current capability targets, which Vandier emphasized must be urgently addressed. With increasing pressure to strengthen defense efforts, the alliance’s strategic focus is on ensuring deterrence and addressing growing security challenges, especially in light of ongoing tensions with Russia.

Trump’s Push for Greater European Defense Contributions

U.S. President Donald Trump has called on European NATO members to increase their defense spending, warning that the U.S. could deny security guarantees to countries that fail to meet NATO’s defense goals. The challenge remains that one-third of European NATO members did not meet the current defense spending target of 2% of GDP, and NATO’s effort to increase spending has sparked a broader conversation about European defense autonomy and burden-sharing.

Vandier acknowledged that while the U.S. continues to support NATO and its defense goals, there could be a shift in the balance of military capabilities within the alliance, with a focus on Europe taking a more proactive role in its conventional defense. NATO’s new focus is on the rebalancing of capabilities, where the U.S. will retain its leadership in air, space, and nuclear deterrence, while European members take on a larger share of conventional defense tasks.

Vandier also emphasized that NATO must prioritize offensive capabilities to ensure deterrence, stressing that defensive strategies alone are insufficient. He pointed to the European Long-range Strike Approach, which aims to develop long-range conventional missiles as a key deterrence tool. In addition to missile systems, NATO needs to invest heavily in offensive electronic warfare and air-defense systems to counter the growing threats posed by adversaries.

NATO’s military strength must also expand in terms of sheer numbers, with calls for more battalions, tanks, ships, artillery, and other equipment. Additionally, the alliance is focused on enhancing critical enablers such as logistics, air-to-air refueling, command-and-control tools, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and electronic warfare systems.

To address the varying levels of defense capability among NATO’s European members, there may be a shift toward a “multi-speed” defense strategy. This would allow nations with stronger military capabilities to lead operations and power projection, while others provide cyber support, logistics, and other enablers. Such a strategy would allow NATO to continue building up its defenses without slowing down progress, ensuring the alliance’s readiness for future threats.