New Defense Bill Demands Annual, Public Report Detailing NATO Allies' Spending and Military Contributions

This legislation, dubbed the NATO Burden Sharing Report Act, mandates that the Secretary of Defense deliver a highly detailed, annual report to Congress by March 1st. Essentially, this bill is all about transparency: Congress wants a comprehensive, itemized receipt of exactly what every single NATO member and potential member (Membership Action Plan countries) is contributing to the collective defense effort.

The Receipt for Collective Defense

For those of us who track government spending and international policy, this report is going to be the gold standard for comparing who’s pulling their weight. The bill requires the Department of Defense (DoD) to list each ally’s annual defense spending, showing both the raw dollar amount and, critically, the percentage of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) dedicated to defense. This is the metric NATO uses to judge commitment, and making it public puts significant pressure on allies who aren't meeting the agreed-upon 2% target.

Beyond the money, the report must detail the operational commitments each country is making. This includes describing their participation in military or stability operations where U.S. troops are involved, and specifically noting any limitations they place on how their forces can be used—the infamous “caveats” that can sometimes frustrate joint operations. If an ally sends troops but limits where they can go or what they can do, the DoD has to spell out how the U.S. has to work around those restrictions.

What They Gave to Ukraine and Why It Matters to You

The bill requires highly specific data for each country, which is where things get interesting and potentially politically sensitive. The report must assess the health and specific advantages of each ally’s defense industry. It also requires an assessment of their military forces, including how fast they could fully mobilize, and identifies any areas where that country is completely reliant on allied military help. This level of detail moves beyond just spending figures and starts painting a picture of military readiness across the alliance.

Perhaps most relevant right now, the report must detail exactly what each country has given to Ukraine, distinguishing between “hard power” (weapons and military equipment) and “soft power” (humanitarian or financial aid). For the average person, this annual report means that the debate over who is contributing what to global security—and who is relying too heavily on the U.S.—will now be backed by standardized, publicly available data. This gives the public and policymakers a clear benchmark to hold allies accountable, which could influence future U.S. foreign policy and, eventually, how U.S. defense dollars are allocated internationally. While this bill doesn't change policy itself, it provides the ammunition for significant policy shifts down the road.