NATO Leaders Agree on 5% GDP Defence Spending at Hague Summit

The recent NATO summit in The Hague highlighted growing transatlantic tensions and shifts in global alliances, with U.S. President Donald Trump playing a central and controversially influential role. NATO leaders agreed to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035, a move hailed by Trump as a major success for America but criticized by several European countries, including Spain, which viewed the target as unreasonable. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte notably praised Trump in a highly sycophantic message, reflecting an unusually close rapport that some saw as a diplomatic strategy to secure U.S. commitments. Meanwhile, Australia's presence was symbolized by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles on the fringes of the NATO family photo, sparking debate about the country's diminishing influence amid its ongoing tensions with the U.S. over tariffs and the AUKUS submarine deal. The summit's brief joint declaration and the visible divisions underscored a fragmented alliance focused on deterrence against Russia, but also revealed underlying fractures over defense priorities and broader strategic goals. Journalistic observations captured the summit’s complex dynamics, including Trump’s shifting positions and the challenges of summit diplomacy.