Ireland Nearly Triples Defence Spending, But Remains Europe's Lightest Spender

Ireland is investing €1.7 billion in military capabilities over five years—its largest defence commitment ever. The plan ramps from €300 million in 2026 to €360 million by 2030, up from just €141 million in 2022. Even so, Ireland spends only 0.2% of its GDP on defence, far below European peers, reflecting decades of minimal military investment.