NATO Agrees to Boost Defense Spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 under Trump Pressure
NATO leaders on June 25 agreed, following pressure from former US President Donald Trump, to significantly increase their defense budgets and reaffirmed their "unwavering commitment" to defend one another in the event of an attack.
New Goal Set for 10 Years
Thirty-two NATO leaders pledged to invest 5% of annual GDP in defense and security needs by 2035 to meet collective obligations. European nations have cited Russia’s 2022 attack on Ukraine as a key security threat. They reiterated NATO’s collective defense promise: an attack on one is an attack on all.
Trump Issues Warning
Trump had bluntly told NATO members that he would not defend countries rolling back on spending targets. “I’m committed to saving lives. I’m committed to life and security,” he stated.
Spending Breakdown
The new target surpasses the current 2% GDP benchmark. NATO countries will allocate 3.5% of GDP to core defense (army and weaponry) and 1.5% to broader security measures (cybersecurity, pipeline protection, roads, and bridges for military transportation).
Spain Raises Objection
All NATO members backed the new commitment, though Spain said it need not meet the full target, maintaining it can honor obligations with lower spending—a stance Trump strongly opposed.
Sec-Gen Emphasizes Need
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg recognized that raising extra funds isn't easy but “absolutely necessary” given Russia’s threat and current global security conditions.
Finland Joins NATO
Referring to Trump’s strong language during the Israel-Iran conflict, Stoltenberg likened Trump to a father intervening in a schoolyard fight. Finnish President Alexander Stubb noted NATO is evolving into a more balanced alliance with greater European responsibility. Finland joined NATO two years ago, sharing a border with Russia.
Support for Ukraine
Trump indicated after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that he would consider providing additional Patriot air-defense missile batteries, vital for Ukraine’s defense against Russian attacks. The leaders described their 50-minute meeting at the NATO summit in The Hague as a positive step in a war now entering its fourth year. Trump called it “tougher than the others.”