NATO is set to significantly increase its active soldier count and bolster defense capabilities in response to new alliance force goals, with a focus on strengthening territorial defense. The move comes amid heightened security concerns, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine, and aims to enhance the alliance’s readiness and responsiveness to potential threats.
Germany’s Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, anticipates that Germany will need to contribute between 50,000 and 60,000 soldiers to meet the new requirements. Denmark is also set to increase its number of combat-ready soldiers, according to Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen.
The specific force goals, which are confidential, are expected to be formally established at a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels. These goals must be finalized before the NATO summit in The Hague at the end of June, where leaders from the 32 member countries, including US President Donald Trump and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, will convene to outline the alliance’s build-up strategy.
Sweden’s Minister of Defence, Pål Jonson, has expressed Sweden’s support for increasing defense spending to 3.5 percent of gross domestic product, with an additional 1.5 percent allocated for broader security measures.
Denmark plans to extend conscription from 4 to 11 months and expand it to include women from 2026, increasing the number of conscripts in the Armed Forces and Emergency Management Agency to 7,500 per year. The government intends to implement the extended conscription in February 2026, earlier than initially planned.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the need for increased investment in air defense, long-range missiles, control systems, and large land formations. He stated that significant investments are crucial for the alliance’s defense capabilities.
According to anonymous sources speaking to Bloomberg, NATO aims to increase Europe’s ground-based air defense fivefold. The decision is influenced by the war in Ukraine, where Russia has caused widespread destruction using drones and long-range missiles, targeting both military and civilian infrastructure.
Denmark will contribute to enhanced air defense capabilities by purchasing the first systems for a ground-based air defense, which is expected to be operational in 2026. The government will make a decision on this purchase next week.
These force goals are considered essential for establishing a new target for member countries’ defense spending. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has agreed to a compromise proposal by Mark Rutte, recommending that countries allocate 3.5 percent of their GDP directly to defense and an additional 1.5 percent to broader security challenges. This new spending target is expected to be finalized at the NATO summit in The Hague.