US leads NATO defense spending as European allies follow behind

The United States remains by far the largest military spender among NATO countries, according to recent data highlighting defense budgets across key member states.

The US is investing $980 billion annually in defense, dwarfing its closest European allies. Germany follows with $93.7 billion, while the United Kingdom allocates $90.5 billion. France, Italy, and Poland complete the top six, with budgets of $66.5 billion, $48.8 billion, and $44.3 billion, respectively.

The data underscores the significant disparity between American and European defense spending, even as NATO emphasizes collective security and burden-sharing among its members. The high US spending also reflects its global military commitments, technological edge, and large-scale defense infrastructure.

European nations, meanwhile, continue to expand their defense capabilities amid rising geopolitical tensions, particularly in Eastern Europe. Germany and the UK are investing heavily in modernization programs, while Poland is boosting its military in response to regional security challenges.

Analysts note that the wide gap in spending places considerable pressure on NATO to balance capabilities, with the United States bearing a disproportionate share of the alliance's defense responsibilities.