Photo: Elizabeth Frantz / Reuters
US President Donald Trump has unveiled a draft budget for 2026 that envisages a significant increase in defence spending – to more than $1 trillion. This reflects the Trump administration’s priorities to strengthen national security and modernise the armed forces.
According to Bloomberg, former Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has previously recommended a $50 billion increase in defence spending above previous projections, which could bring the Pentagon’s budget to more than $1 trillion in the coming years.
Trump has also called on NATO member states to increase their defence spending to 5% of GDP, well above the current target of 2%. This proposal has caused concern among the allies, as achieving this level of spending is economically challenging for most countries.
At the same time, the Trump administration plans to cut funding for domestic programmes, including foreign aid and renewable energy initiatives, to redirect resources to defence and border security.
