NATO leaders meeting in The Hague have agreed to significantly increase defense spending to 5% of their countries’ economic output by 2035, following months of pressure from US President Donald Trump. The alliance’s 32 members reaffirmed their “ironclad commitment to collective defense,” emphasizing the mutual security guarantee under Article Five of the NATO treaty.
According to the agreement, member states will dedicate at least 3.5% of their GDP to core military spending by 2035, with an additional 1.5% allocated to broader security-related areas such as infrastructure.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the importance of unity and strength in the face of security threats, stating, “No-one should doubt our capacity or determination should our security be challenged.”
Rutte further highlighted the alliance’s progress, saying, “This is a stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance that our leaders have begun to build.” Trump, who had earlier raised questions about the security guarantee, clarified his stance after the summit, stating, “I stand with [Article Five], that’s why I’m here.” The US president hailed the summit as a “big success” and described the hike in spending as a “great victory for everybody.”
The agreement allows for some flexibility, providing wiggle room for cash-strapped governments in Europe. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever noted that while meeting the target won’t be easy, “3.5% within 10 years is a realistic goal.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who had initially objected to the 5% target, signed the NATO statement, maintaining it was “sufficient, realistic and compatible” for Madrid to meet its commitments.
Some member states, including Spain and Slovakia, expressed reservations about the ambitious spending targets. Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo of Spain said Madrid was making an “enormous effort” to reach a target of 2.1% and described the discussion about the percentage as “misguided.” Despite initial hesitation, Slovakia’s President Peter Pellegrini indicated that Bratislava would not stand in the way of the agreement.
French President Emmanuel Macron took issue with Trump’s trade tariff confrontation with the European Union, calling for a deal and stating, “We can’t say to each other, among allies, we need to spend more… and wage trade war against one another, it makes no sense.” The summit’s focus on defense spending and collective security comes amid heightened tensions with Russia, particularly following its invasion of Ukraine.
NATO member states stressed their commitment to providing support for Ukraine, “whose security contributes to ours.” The alliance’s final communique included direct contributions to Kyiv’s defense and its defense industry in the assessment of allies’ defense spending.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of NATO, saying, “We live in a very volatile world and today is about the unity of Nato, showing that strength. We’re bigger than we were before, we’re stronger than we were before.”
The summit’s outcome reflects a balance between Trump’s demands for increased defense spending and the need for collective security in the face of growing threats from Russia and terrorism. As NATO continues to adapt to the changing security landscape, its commitment to collective defense remains a cornerstone of the alliance.