NATO leaders reach landmark agreement to significantly boost defense spending

(MENAFN) NATO leaders have reached a landmark agreement to significantly boost defense spending, opting to prioritize internal military commitments over discussions on Ukraine. At a brief summit held in The Hague, the alliance pledged to increase defense budgets to 5% of each member state's GDP by 2035—more than doubling the current 2% guideline.

US President Donald Trump celebrated the move as a “major victory,” reinforcing his long-standing push for European allies to contribute more financially to collective defense. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the commitment as a step toward creating a “stronger, fairer, and more lethal” alliance, echoing the doctrine he has promoted since taking office in June 2025.

Behind the scenes, Rutte has been lavishing Trump with praise, even texting admiration for Trump’s military strikes on Iran and crediting him for the spending increase. At the summit, Rutte went so far as to compare Trump to a “daddy” figure while defending the president’s controversial language regarding Iran and Israel.

The official NATO communiqué was notably brief, highlighting vague “long-term threats” from Russia and offering only a single mention of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky was restricted to a pre-summit dinner and a brief meeting with Trump, who made it clear that discussions on a ceasefire were not on the agenda.

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