NATO Members Commit to 5% GDP Defense Spending Target

At the NATO summit in The Hague, member states agreed on a significant policy shift to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, a target strongly advocated by US President Donald Trump and supported by leaders like Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. While countries such as Greece are already exceeding current defense spending targets and planning substantial military investments, Spain and Belgium expressed reservations about meeting the new 5% goal, calling it unrealistic. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized that the increased spending burden would fall primarily on European and Canadian members to balance financial responsibilities and reduce reliance on the United States. The summit highlights a strategic move to ensure fair burden-sharing among all 32 NATO members, with Mitsotakis stressing the importance of binding commitments to prevent free-riding. Leaders also underscored the urgency of addressing security challenges, with calls to modernize forces and enhance readiness amidst evolving geopolitical threats, including concerns about Russia. This collective commitment marks a new era for NATO’s defense posture, aiming for a more balanced and robust alliance.