The total defense spending of European Union countries is expected to reach a record level of 326 billion euros in 2024, according to data released by European Defense Agency (EDA) on Wednesday.
The latest defense figure is equivalent to 1.9 percent of the EU's GDP, and this is also the 10th consecutive year of growth in EU defense spending.
Data showed that the total defense spending of EU countries in 2023 logged 279 billion euros, an increase of 10 percent over the previous year.
The EDA said the continued growth was due to EU countries seeking to enhance their defense capabilities to cope with the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and general concerns about long-term defense security.
EU defense spending to reach record level in 2024
EU defense spending to reach record level in 2024
U.S. President Donald Trump said that U.S.-Iran talks will continue to see whether a deal can be consummated, shortly after his closed-door meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Wednesday.
"There was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "If it can, I let the Prime Minister know that will be a preference. If it cannot, we will just have to see what the outcome will be", said Trump.
Meanwhile, the U.S. president warned that "Last time Iran decided that they were better off not making a Deal, and they were hit with Midnight Hammer -- That did not work well for them. Hopefully this time they will be more reasonable and responsible."
Trump added that he and Netanyahu also discussed the progress being made in Gaza and the Middle East region in general.
On the same day, Netanyahu's office made an announcement that the two leaders discussed the negotiations with Iran, Gaza and regional developments in the meeting. The Israeli prime minister stated the security needs of his country, adding that the two leaders agreed on continued coordination and the close bond between them.
On Wednesday, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani said that Tehran has yet to receive any clear proposal from the U.S. despite ongoing indirect negotiations.
He made the remarks in an interview with Qatar's Al Jazeera during a visit to Doha, commenting on the first round of renewed nuclear talks held in the Omani capital, Muscat, on Friday.
Larijani said Israel is trying to disrupt the negotiation process and manufacture pretexts to provoke unrest. He added that Israel's actions are not aimed solely at Iran but at undermining stability across the entire Middle East.
He reaffirmed Iran's stance over the nuclear issue and warned that any U.S. attack would draw retaliation against U.S. military bases in the region.
Ahead of his departure to Qatar, Larijani said the U.S. side appears willing to move the negotiations towards a solution, but it is not possible yet to make a complete judgment, adding that the date of the next round will be announced following the consultations.
Tehran and Washington held their initial round of indirect talks on Friday in the Omani capital Muscat, amid simmering tensions between the two sides in view of Washington's military buildup near Iran.
Trump says talks with Iran will continue to see whether deal can be consummated
