Consider defending 1.5% of GDP in defense

The prime minister says the government is looking to spend 1.5 percent of GDP in « defense -related » spending, as NATO’s leadership has requested by Member States. Based on GDP last year, the amount amounts to ISK 70 billion per year.

Icelanders now spend about 0.14 percent of GDP GDP, according to information from it in April.

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir today had a bilateral meeting with Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the NATO Alliance (NATO), at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

There were defense and security issues for discussion, but the meeting is a certain warm-up for the NATO leadership, which will be held on June 24 to 26.

All states unless Iceland will pay 5%

Mark Rutte intends to demand changes to the upcoming summit to raise minimum defense spending on defense states from 2% to 3.5%, but Iceland has been excluded from the goal due to the country’s military and small size.

But Rutte also wants Member States to spend 1.5% of GDP in « defense -related » issues, TAM net defense and other infrastructure, over the next seven years. It is unclear what would exactly fall under that issue and whether Iceland would be excluded, but Kristrún seemed to be doing well in these ideas Rutte.

« We want to answer the call, it is the will of the government to do it. We are looking at one and a half percent, » said Kristrún. « But we are also seeing money going on direct defense spending and it will increase. »

Last year, GDP was ISK 4,616 billion, according to Statistics Iceland, and 1.5% of this is just under ISK 70 billion.

From the meeting this morning with Rutte and Kristrún.

Photo/Prime Minister’s Office

Rutte said he had received a clear message from Kristrún that Icelanders wanted to increase defense spending.

Kristrún, however, stated that there would be no change in nature on how capital is spent on defense. Rather, she would rather « strengthen what we are already good at, which is defense -related investments and expenses ».

In a Facebook post after the meeting, Kristrún also wrote that she wanted Iceland an active role in NATO leadership and continued to « increase the preparedness and investment in defense-related infrastructure in the coming years-which can also be used for civilian purposes ». Kristrún has felt « full understanding of Iceland’s position and contribution » to NATO.

« The government is completely unanimous about this. Which appears both in a new security and defense policy that is being worked on under the leadership of the Foreign Minister and in the government’s financial plan for 2030. »

Kristrún and Rutte discussed this morning.

Photo/Prime Minister’s Office

The meeting was a certain warm -up for the NATO leader in June.

Photo/Prime Minister’s Office