NATO Leaders Agree to Raise Defense Spending to 5% GDP by 2035

At the 2025 NATO summit in the Netherlands, President Donald Trump secured a major victory by leading an agreement among member states to significantly increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a substantial rise from the previous 2%. The commitment includes 3.5% allocated to core defense needs and an additional 1.5% for national resilience, such as infrastructure and manufacturing upgrades. Despite some resistance, particularly from Spain, which argues it can meet targets with lower spending, NATO leaders reaffirmed their collective defense pledge, emphasizing that an attack on one member is an attack on all. The summit marked a sharp contrast to previous years when Trump faced criticism and resistance from allies, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praising Trump for his leadership and accomplishments, including his role in striking Iran's nuclear enrichment sites and brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Experts and leaders alike hailed the summit as a demonstration of strong U.S. leadership and a diplomatic triumph for Trump. Overall, the summit’s outcomes reflected a renewed solidarity among NATO members under Trump’s direction.