NATO Gears Up to Endorse 5 Percent Defense Spending Target

2025-06-24 04:05:32

(MENAFN) The NATO summit kicked off Tuesday in The Hague under stringent security measures, as member state leaders prepare to endorse a proposed defense spending target of 5 percent of their GDP.

This two-day event unfolds against the backdrop of escalating unrest in the Middle East, triggered by a recent U.S. airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities. The Dutch authorities have fortified the summit area with a comprehensive defense setup, deploying F-35 fighter jets and Patriot missile batteries to create a highly secured perimeter.

Prior to the meeting, NATO’s 32 members reached consensus on a suggested objective to boost defense expenditures to 5 percent of GDP by 2035. This goal breaks down into 3.5 percent allocated for direct military spending and 1.5 percent dedicated to related investments such as infrastructure improvements. The summit’s heads of state and government are expected to formally approve this proposal.

Support for the spending increase is strongest among Eastern European nations, though some disagreement persists. U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the United States would not commit to the 5 percent target, while simultaneously urging other members to fulfill their defense commitments. Reports suggest Trump contemplated skipping the summit altogether as a tactic to pressure NATO allies.

Meanwhile, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom have stressed the importance of maintaining defense autonomy and ongoing support for Ukraine.

Spain, which initially opposed the 5 percent spending threshold, ultimately agreed to a more moderate draft communiqué. However, it clarified that it would not adhere to the 5 percent target, opting instead to sustain its defense budget at 2.1 percent of GDP.

This year’s summit represents a significant scale-down compared to last year’s event in Washington — both in length and in agenda focus. With U.S. attention shifting away from Ukraine, the topic has dropped in priority: fewer Ukraine-related issues are included, and the NATO-Ukraine Council leaders’ meeting, once a key feature, has been omitted entirely.

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