European nations boost defense spending in response to security threats, report finds

European countries are increasing their defense spending in response to threats from Russia, according to a report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies. This follows the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. NATO's European members have raised their defense budgets by 50% over the past decade. However, the report highlights ongoing challenges, including unstable public financing and regulatory barriers that hinder investment in the defense industry. Despite increased output in certain military products, European nations still rely on the U.S. for key military capabilities. The report notes that many European armies lack sufficient personnel and must improve their defense capabilities to address current threats.