At the recent NATO summit, a bold proposal to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP laid bare deep rifts within the alliance. While some members push for stronger military readiness, others warn of unintended consequences for citizens and global stability.
According to a global poll by CGTN, 67.4% of respondents condemn NATO's accelerated military expansion, arguing it could spark a new arms race. A striking 84.7% believe the alliance has become an outright war machine, and 80.4% call for vigilance over its rapid build-up.
Global military spending hit $2.72 trillion in 2024, with NATO nations accounting for $1.5 trillion – 55% of the total. Critics fear that hitting the 5% target will worsen this imbalance: 73.8% of poll participants say it poses a grave threat to world peace and security.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has labeled the 5% goal "disproportionate and unnecessary." Eighty-point-one percent of respondents agree, warning that steep defense hikes could lead to higher taxes or cuts in welfare programs, costs ultimately borne by European citizens.
Tensions between the U.S. and its European partners also surfaced. Some 76.2% of respondents foresee the spending debate deepening divisions among NATO's European members, while 76.6% accuse the U.S. of sidelining their concerns after former President Donald Trump threatened to scale back America's security commitments.
In just 12 hours, CGTN collected responses from 6,000 users across its English, Spanish, French, Arabic, and Russian platforms. The results underscore a growing demand for balance between defense readiness and diplomatic trust – an issue that will resonate far beyond any single summit room.
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CGTN Poll丨5% defense spending target exposes NATO's deadlock
cgtn.com
