NATO leaders have pledged to increase defence spending to 5 percent of their nations’ economic output by 2035, a significant shift driven in part by pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The agreement, reached Wednesday at a summit in The Hague, was described by Trump as a “big win for Europe and Western civilisation.” It marks the alliance’s most ambitious financial commitment in decades.
In a joint statement, leaders cited the “profound” threats posed by Russia and terrorism, reaffirming their shared responsibility under NATO’s collective defence clause. However, unlike last year’s declaration, the final document did not directly condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“This is a stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance that our leaders have begun to build,” said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. He stressed that the pact sends a clear signal of resolve in the face of growing global tensions.
The plan requires allies to devote at least 3.5 percent of their GDP to core military spending, with an additional 1.5 percent set aside for investments linked to security infrastructure. Trump, attending his first NATO summit since 2019, called the move a “big success.”
While most leaders endorsed the shift, the proposal drew criticism from some quarters. French President Emmanuel Macron questioned Trump’s simultaneous support for higher spending and tariff disputes within the alliance, calling it contradictory. Spain and Belgium also voiced concerns over the financial targets, though they ultimately signed on to the agreement.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the spending hike represents a milestone for NATO unity. “We live in a very volatile world and today is about the strength of our alliance,” he said.
Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines and acknowledged that efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine remained challenging. He hinted at possible increases in U.S. support, including more air defence systems.
Despite some internal friction, NATO members emerged from the summit with a renewed commitment to collective security and support for Ukraine. The defence investment pledge, while controversial, marks a turning point in the alliance’s strategic posture.
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