NATO's Eastern Flank Increases Defense Spending as Western Europe Faces Gaps

NATO's eastern members are accelerating defense spending and military buildup as pressure from the Trump administration and growing concerns about Russia expose a wider gap with Western Europe. Frontline countries such as Poland, Romania, the Baltic states, Finland, and Sweden are buying equipment more quickly and investing in deterrence, while several larger Western European economies are still expanding at a slower pace. Analysts say proximity to Russia is driving the faster response in the east. The article says NATO allies agreed at the 2025 summit in The Hague to aim for defense and securityrelated spending equal to 5% of GDP by 2035, including core military and infrastructure investments. Despite higher budgets across the continent, experts warn Europe still depends heavily on U.S. capabilities including airlift, refueling, intelligence, cyber, and space support.