NATO Members Agree to Raise Defense Spending Targets to Five Percent by 2035

President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit Wednesday, suggesting that increased spending by the trans-Atlantic alliance could help prevent future Russian aggression. The meeting came as NATO members agreed to raise their spending targets by 2035 to five percent of gross domestic product annually on core defense requirements and defense-and-security-related spending. This is a significant increase from the current target of two percent of GDP.

Key Takeaways:

• NATO members have agreed to raise their defense spending targets to five percent of GDP by 2035, up from the current target of two percent.
• President Trump suggested that increased spending by the alliance could help prevent future Russian aggression against its neighbors.
• Trump also reiterated his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to end the war in Ukraine, which began with Moscow's invasion in February 2022.
• Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy was their first face-to-face session since April, when they met at St. Peter's Basilica during Pope Francis' funeral.
• Zelenskyy and Trump discussed the possibility of Kyiv producing drones with American companies and buying U.S. air defense systems.
• The U.S. has blocked Ukraine's bid to join NATO.

Statistics:

• NATO members will raise their defense spending targets to five percent of GDP by 2035.
• The current target of two percent of GDP will be increased to five percent by 2035.
• Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed a desire to end the war in Ukraine, according to Trump.
• The U.S. has blocked Ukraine's bid to join NATO.

Sources:

• The Associated Press