Under pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump, NATO leaders at the 2025 Hague Summit committed to raising defence and security-related spending to 5% of GDP by 2035—a significant leap from the previous 2% target
🎯 What the New 5% Target Means
- The 5% goal breaks down into 3.5% for core military expenditures (personnel, operations, equipment) and 1.5% for related areas like infrastructure, cyber defence, and logistics
- Progress reviews will occur in 2029, with full implementation by 2035
- The summit’s closing declaration also reaffirmed NATO’s “ironclad commitment” to mutual defence under Article 5
💬 What Leaders Are Saying
- Donald Trump hailed it as a “great victory”, saying it ensures fairer financial contributions from European allies
- Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary-General, described the move as “transformational,” urging members to adopt a “wartime mindset” in preparedness
- Germany’s Johann Wadephul signaled support, calling it a “paradigm shift” toward aligning with U.S. expectations
⚠️ Resistance & Tensions
- Spain refused to meet the new goal, citing welfare and budget priorities, and negotiated an exemption from the 5% mandate
- Several other nations, including Belgium, Slovakia, and Italy, expressed concerns over feasibility and the risk of budget-driven rather than capability-driven spending apnews.com.
🌍 Why It Matters
- Strengthened Deterrence: Higher spending enhances readiness against threats like Russian aggression and cyber warfare.
- Infrastructure Boost: The 1.5% security component drives investments in critical systems—airfields, logistics, and cyber resilience.
- Geopolitical Leverage: It addresses U.S. concerns about burden-sharing and reinforces NATO unity amid global uncertainties.
🔭 What’s Next
- National Roadmaps: Countries must submit annual plans by mid-2026 detailing how they’ll progress to 5%.
- Debate Continues: Some, including Spain, may reconfigure contributions to emphasize efficiency over headline percentages.
- Future Summits: NATO will assess evolving security dynamics—especially Ukraine and Indo-Pacific challenges—and adjust metrics accordingly.
