Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has stirred controversy once again by calling for the United States to withdraw from NATO. Musk argues that it “doesn’t make sense for America to pay for the defense of Europe,” questioning why U.S. taxpayers are footing the bill while many European nations lag in military spending.

His comments come amid growing political debate over NATO’s future and follow similar remarks from Utah Senator Mike Lee, as well as past criticism from former President Donald Trump.

How Much Does the U.S. Pay for NATO?

In 2024, the United States accounted for 68% of NATO’s total defense expenditures.

  • The U.S. defense budget was $860 billion, representing 3.38% of its GDP.
  • While not all U.S. defense spending goes directly to NATO, America remains the largest contributor to the alliance’s collective defense.

By contrast, NATO’s European allies have increased spending but still trail the U.S.
At the 2024 Washington NATO Summit, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that 23 out of 32 NATO members met the 2% of GDP target, up from 10 members in 2021.

NATO Member Defense Spending in 2024 (as % of GDP):

CountryDefense Spending (% of GDP)Notes
United States3.38%$860B defense budget
Poland4.12%Highest in NATO
Greece3.05%Traditionally high due to tensions with Turkey
Estonia3.43%Frontline NATO state
Latvia3.12%Increased spending since Ukraine war
Lithuania2.85%Significant boost in 2024
United Kingdom2.33%Meeting target, aiming higher
France2.06%Committed to increased budgets
Germany2.12%Crossed 2% threshold in 2024
Romania2.5%Boosted amid regional threats
Slovakia2.0%Met 2% goal for the first time
Hungary2.0%Newly compliant with NATO target
Norway2.02%Consistently above target
Czech Republic2.0%Recently crossed target

Other NATO members such as Italy (1.5%), Spain (1.28%), Belgium (1.30%), and Canada (1.37%) still fall short of the 2% goal despite pressure from the U.S. and NATO leadership.

Source

Europe’s Push for More Defense Spending

At the 2024 NATO summit, French President Emmanuel Macron urged European nations to boost defense budgets to 3% – 3.5% of GDP in response to increasing geopolitical threats and growing uncertainty about future U.S. involvement in European defense.

Germany is reportedly planning a €400 billion defense and infrastructure fund to maintain its commitment to NATO.

Musk’s Call for a U.S. Exit: What’s Next?

Musk’s comments have intensified debate about whether the U.S. should continue to bear the financial burden of NATO. While the U.S. provides the backbone of NATO’s deterrence and military capabilities, critics argue that European nations are capable of defending themselves.

Despite Musk’s call, any formal withdrawal from NATO by the U.S. would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate or an act of Congress.

Bottom Line:

The U.S. remains NATO’s dominant military power, but as European nations ramp up spending, the future of America’s role in NATO—and the alliance itself—is under intense scrutiny.

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