Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of NATO, labeling the alliance a 'paper tiger' and suggesting that the US might withdraw due to perceived ineffectiveness, particularly after NATO's lack of support during the Iran war. He argues that NATO failed to back the US when needed, although NATO's rules do not mandate member support unless a member is directly attacked. Notably, NATO's defense spending has increasingly shifted towards European and Canadian nations, which have ramped up their military budgets in response to security concerns stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. While US defense budgets have seen real-term declines, European and Canadian spending is projected to grow significantly, highlighting a change in the alliance's internal balance. By 2025, NATO's total defense spending is estimated to rise from about $1 trillion in 2014 to $1.4 trillion, with Europe and Canada contributing a larger share. In a significant policy shift, NATO leaders have agreed to aim for a defense spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035, replacing the previous 2% guideline, although compliance with the latter has been inconsistent. As of 2023, 10 out of 31 NATO members met the 2% target, with projections indicating that 31 out of 32 members will achieve this benchmark by 2025.