Turkey has met NATO’s key defense spending targets for the first time, but its share of the alliance’s total defense expenditure has declined as other member states increased their budgets at a faster rate, according to the NATO secretary general’s 2024 Annual Report.
The report provides an overview of Allied contributions and highlights growing defense efforts in response to an evolving security environment.
The data, covering the period from 2014 to 2024 (estimated), shows that Turkey has reached both of NATO’s key benchmarks: allocating at least 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) to defense and spending at least 20 percent of the defense budget on major equipment and related research.
According to the annex on defense expenditures, Turkey’s defense spending rose from 1.45 percent of GDP in 2014 to an estimated 2.09 percent in 2024.
At the same time, 31.8 percent of its 2024 defense budget was allocated to major equipment, exceeding the NATO target of 20 percent.
In constant 2021 dollars, Turkey’s defense expenditure grew by 130 percent over the past decade, rising from $8.41 billion in 2014 to an estimated $19.39 billion in 2024.
Although Turkey’s estimated defense spending in 2024 surpassed the NATO guideline of 2 percent of GDP, its share of total NATO defense expenditure—calculated in current prices—fell from 2.4 percent in 2014 to 1.9 percent in 2024.
This decline does not indicate a decrease in Turkey’s military commitment. Rather, it reflects the fact that several other Allies, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, increased their defense budgets at an even faster pace.
Countries such as Poland, Lithuania and Estonia allocated more than 3 percent of GDP to defense, while larger economies including Germany and France made substantial spending increases.
As a result, Turkey’s relative share within NATO’s growing overall defense budget has declined, despite the country’s own notable rise in defense expenditure over the past decade.
Military operations and contributions
The report outlines Turkey’s active role across various NATO missions. In the air domain, Turkey contributes to the Alliance’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) patrols, which are used for early detection of air threats over Eastern Europe.
Turkey also supports NATO’s Air Policing operations and takes part in the Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JISR) initiative, providing intelligence to help inform strategic decisions.
In the maritime domain, Turkey contributes naval forces to the Standing NATO Maritime Groups and supports Operation Sea Guardian, a mission focused on maintaining maritime security in the Mediterranean Sea.
The country also participates in NATO’s Enhanced Vigilance Activities, which aim to strengthen the Alliance’s posture on its eastern flank, and contributes to the Ballistic Missile Defence mission through the early-warning radar installation in Kürecik.
Turkey continues to support the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) operation, maintaining a deployment of 325 troops in the region.
Joint exercises and readiness
Turkey took part in Steadfast Defender 2024, NATO’s largest military exercise in recent decades, involving more than 90,000 troops across air, land and sea domains.
The country also joined Brilliant Jump 24, which tested the rapid deployment of NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, and Dynamic Manta 24, an exercise focused on anti-submarine warfare in the Mediterranean.
These exercises, conducted in cooperation with other member states, aim to improve coordination, responsiveness and collective defense capabilities across the Alliance.
Involvement in NATO innovation initiatives
In addition to traditional operations, Turkey is among the 14 Allies participating in STARLIFT, one of six multinational High Visibility Projects launched by NATO in 2024.
The STARLIFT project seeks to establish a scalable network of government-owned and commercially responsive space launch capabilities.
It is intended to improve the Alliance’s ability to access and use space assets during times of crisis or conflict.
These projects are part of NATO’s wider effort to promote multinational defense procurement, develop new technologies and improve interoperability among Allies.
Position in the alliance
The report lists Turkey among 22 members meeting the 2 percent defense spending target and 28 nations allocating over 20 percent of their defense budgets to equipment.
These figures reflect a broader effort by the Alliance to improve readiness and collective defense following years of underinvestment.
While Turkey’s relative financial share within NATO has declined due to rapid spending increases by other countries, the report shows the country continues to contribute significantly to NATO’s operations, missions and innovation efforts.
In line with broader trends across the Alliance, Turkey’s evolving role reflects both national investment and NATO’s push for greater collective preparedness.