What specific goal are NATO members achieving related to defense spending?

The goal that NATO members are striving to achieve in terms of defense spending is set at 2% of their respective Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This target was reaffirmed during the NATO summit in Wales in 2014, where member countries agreed that they should aim to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense by 2024. This commitment reflects NATO's focus on ensuring adequate military capabilities in response to various global security challenges, including aggression from state and non-state actors.

A 2% defense spending target is considered critical for maintaining a credible deterrence capability and fulfilling obligations under collective defense principles. Countries that meet this goal can better contribute to NATO's collective security through enhanced readiness and capability, which is especially pertinent in light of current geopolitical tensions and the changing nature of warfare.

While the other proposed percentages — 1%, 3.5%, and 5% — do not align with the official NATO target, they illustrate the varying levels of defense spending that may exist among different nations, but they do not reflect the consensus reached among NATO allies regarding the specific 2% benchmark.