NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Antalya: Fight for higher defense spending!

NATO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Antalya: Fight for higher defense spending!

Antalya, Türkei - On May 14, 2025, the informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers began in Antalya. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrij Sybiha are among the leading representatives who take part in the talks. The focus of the meeting is on the preparations for the upcoming NATO summit in the Hague, which will take place at the end of June. Current developments in Ukraine in particular are a central topic because NATO plans to increase its defense spending in the face of the growing threats from Russia.

The German Foreign Minister Johann WadePhul traveled to Antalya after participating in an international conference in Berlin. Germany is striving to accompany the dialogue between Ukraine and Russia constructively and to support an unconditional 30-day ceasefire. WadePhul also plans to have bilateral discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and will take part in a meeting in the so-called Quint format, which also includes France, Italy and Great Britain.

claims and defense spending

Another point on the agenda is the discussion about increasing defense spending. While Rutte has submitted a proposal for an increase to 3.5 % of GDP, the demand for 5 % GDP for defense at the summit in the Hague is considered unrealistic. This requirement encounters mixed reactions-eastern NATO countries such as Poland, represented by Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, are acceptable, while many Western European countries have difficulty supporting this measure.

The debate about the increase in expenses is particularly relevant because the war of aggressiveness against Ukraine has revealed the deficits in the defense structure of the NATO countries. In 2023, around $ 1,341 billion were spent in NATO, while Russia has a significantly lower defense budget with around $ 109 billion. However, critics argue that higher expenses may result in a arms race and an escalation of the tensions with Russia.

negotiations and geopolitical tensions

As part of the meeting, the possibility of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine is also pointed out. President Wolodymyr Selenskyj has signaled his willingness to travel to Istanbul for talks, while Wladimir Putin suggests direct negotiations in the Turkish city. However, it remains unclear whether Putin will actually be present in the talks, since the Kremlin has not yet given any confirmation.

The current geopolitical situation and the associated challenges make a careful analysis of defense spending and military capacities essential. Especially after the recent attacks and the continuing conflicts, the need to realistically evaluate the military balance of power and to make necessary investments to strengthen the national defense.

NATO Foreign Minister faces the challenge of finding a uniform procedure in a rapidly changing security situation while at the same time they have to meet the requirements of their Member States. The focus on the upcoming summit in the Haag will be decisive for the future defense strategy of the Allianz.

For more information about the meeting and the discussions, you can do the report by vienna.at , the article by dailywrap.net as well as the analysis on IPG Journal