NATO Allies Agree to Increase Defence Spending to 5% by 2035

Strategic Insights -

US President Donald Trump hailed a summit in The Hague as a "great victory for everybody" after NATO allies agreed to increase defence spending to 5% of output by 2035. The deal, which Mr Trump had been pushing for years, aims to counter a growing threat from Russia and keep the US president engaged. Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said the continent needed to take responsibility for its own security "in a very difficult time".

Key Takeaways:

  • NATO allies have agreed to increase defence spending to 5% of output by 2035, with 3.5% dedicated to core defence costs and 1.5% to broader security-related areas.
  • The increase is aimed at counteracting a growing threat from Russia and keeping the US president engaged.
  • Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever emphasized the need for Europe to take responsibility for its own security, citing the continent's "long break from history".
  • The deal was struck during a summit in The Hague, with US President Donald Trump hailing it as a "great victory for everybody".
  • NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte played down comments by Trump appearing to cast doubt on the validity of Article Five of the NATO treaty.
  • The mutual defence clause states that an attack on one member state is an attack on all, but Trump's comments raised concerns about US commitment to this principle.
  • Trump's comments about Article Five led to questions from reporters, but he ultimately stated that the US is "with them all the way".
  • The summit also addressed the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, with NATO allies reaffirming their support for the country's president Volodymyr Zelensky.

Statistics:

  • 32 countries have committed to increasing defence spending to 5% of output by 2035.
  • The increase includes 3.5% of GDP going towards core defence costs, just above the current US level.
  • NATO allies will also dedicate 1.5% of GDP to broader security-related areas such as cybersecurity and infrastructure.
  • The summit was attended by US President Donald Trump, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, and over 30 other world leaders.

Sources:

  • AFP (2025)
  • Alliance News Ltd. (2025)