Russian Invasion Prompts Military Spending Boosts

On Wednesday, NATO labeled Russia as the "most significant and direct threat to the allies’ security"—but the nation wasn’t the only topic of discussion. The summit was dominated by the invasion and the geopolitical upheaval Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused and the pledge to a seven-fold increase from 2023 in combat forces on high alert along its eastern flank against any future Russian attack. It also redefined its stance on China—calling the country a challenge for the first time in the summit statement.