At the NATO summit in The Hague, U.S. President Donald Trump hailed a “historic” deal in which 32 member nations agreed to significantly boost defense budgets. The alliance endorsed a transformative target: raising total defense-related spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, with 3.5% allocated to core military capabilities and 1.5% dedicated to infrastructure, cybersecurity, and resilience efforts .
Behind the scenes, Trump reassured NATO members of the United States’ commitment to Article 5—the pact’s cornerstone clause affirming that an attack on one ally is an attack on all. He emphasized, “There’s no greater ally than Washington,” framing the spending agreement as a demonstration of transatlantic unity.
Accepting the accomplishment, Trump called it a “monumental win” for the United States and gave himself credit for breaking the decades-long stagnation in member-state contributions. He warned of potential trade repercussions after pointing the finger at Spain for failing to fulfil the new goal.
While enthusiasm was widespread, a few nations—including Spain, Slovakia, Belgium, and Italy—expressed concerns about meeting the ambitious goal. Still, leaders like NATO’s Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised the summit.
