Significantly increased defense spending in 2023 by European NATO member states and Canada, North Atlantic Alliance Secretary General Mark Rutte announced Friday.

He said that in 2024 spending was up 20 percent compared to 2023.

Many Alliance member states are facing pressure again, as in his first term in the White House, from US President Donald Trump, who is seeking to increase their defence spending.

In the face of these pressures, many countries are struggling to show the new US administration that they have already increased their military spending, particularly in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

After today’s figures were released, NATO pointed out that this 20% annual increase (excluding the US) brought total defense spending by nations to over $485 billion. But even that amount is about 55% of US spending.

“I look forward to hosting defense ministers of NATO states next week, where we will discuss more and better defense investment,” Rutte said in response to a Reuters request for comment on the latest spending figures.

NATO said it could not provide more figures at this time. However, more is expected to be made public at the alliance’s defense ministers’ meeting next Wednesday, which will be attended for the first time by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.