Think tank: Despite stern talk and pledges, some NATO countries are cutting defense spending

Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, right, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meet the journalists at the end of their meeting at Chigi palace premier's office, in Rome, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (The Associated Press)

Italian Premier Matteo Renzi, right, greets NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the end of their meeting at Chigi palace premier's office, in Rome, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) (The Associated Press)

BRUSSELS – Despite stern talk and solemn pledges from NATO, a British-based think tank says some alliance member nations are cutting their spending on defense.

In a report released Thursday, the European Leadership Network said Britain, Bulgaria, Canada, Germany, Hungary and Italy are all on track to reduce military expenditures in 2015.

In France, spending is forecast to remain flat.

"Despite Russian aggression in Ukraine and much rhetoric from NATO leaders that this has been a game-changer in European security, all the evidence suggests there is a continuation of business as usual," said Ian Kearns, director of the European Leadership Network and the report's co-author.

In September, NATO leaders had vowed to "reverse the trend of declining defense budgets."