Portugal to meet 2% defense spending target ahead of schedule in 2025

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo — A Portuguese soldier looks through the scope of his rifle during the European Best Sniper Squad Competition at the 7th Army Training Command Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Sept. 27, 2017. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Emily Houdershieldt via Flickr)

LISBON  -  Portugal expects to increase its defence spending to 2% of gross domestic product this year, four years ahead of schedule, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said on Thursday.

Among the 32 members of NATO, Portugal is one of the countries with the lowest defence spending as a share of its economic output, with the government estimating that it stood at 4.48 billion euros ($5.12 billion) in 2024, or 1.58% of GDP.

Portugal previously expected to reach the current NATO target of 2% of gross domestic product by the end of 2029.

Speaking at his inauguration as the country's re-elected prime minister, Montenegro said the new centre-right government "will in the coming days finalise a plan" for defence investment to be developed over several years.

"I will present at the next NATO Summit the anticipation of the 2% target, if possible already in 2025, with a realistic plan that will not jeopardise the social functions (of the state) and the balance of the budget," he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said NATO allies should boost investment in defence to 5% of GDP and this new target will be a key discussion during the summit scheduled for June 24-25.

Montenegro said the new investments will be developed by "national defence industries and related activities," as the government wants to "take advantage of this increased investment to stimulate economic growth."

($1 = 0.8743 euros)

(Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; Editing by Pietro Lombardi and Paul Simao // REUTERS)