Germany Leads Charge Amid Russian Aggression and Reduced US Support

Defense spending in Europe has increased significantly, accounting for over 21% of the global total in 2025, driven primarily by big investments from Germany, according to a new report from The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). The report highlights that Europe’s push is prompted by the continent’s response to Russian aggression and reduced US willingness to underwrite regional security. Global defense spending reached $2.63 trillion in 2025, with NATO members aiming to spend 5% of GDP on defense by 2035. The report was published by Breaking Defense.