New Delhi: NATO leaders have committed to a historic increase in defence spending, pledging to invest 5 per cent of their national GDPs annually on defence and security by 2035. The move, formalised in a joint statement at the alliance’s summit in The Hague, comes amid escalating concerns over Russia’s aggression and renewed pressure from former US President Donald Trump.
The 32-member alliance described the decision as a crucial step to “ensure our individual and collective obligations”, underscoring what Secretary-General Mark Rutte called NATO’s “ironclad commitment” to Article 5, the mutual defence clause that treats an attack on one ally as an attack on all.
A new defence era
Under the agreement, NATO members will dedicate at least 3.5 per cent of GDP to core defence capabilities, with an additional 1.5 per cent allocated to broader security-related spending, such as infrastructure upgrades, cyberdefence, and hybrid threat countermeasures. A mid-term review is set for 2029 to assess progress and re-evaluate threats, particularly from Russia.
“For too long, one ally, the United States, carried too much of the burden,” Rutte said at the summit. “That changes today.”
Trump’s influence still felt
The ambitious spending pledge followed intense lobbying by Trump, who warned ahead of the summit that US support for NATO should not be taken for granted. Although he later reaffirmed his backing for Article 5, his earlier remarks questioning its interpretation caused unease among allies.
“There are numerous definitions of Article 5, you know that, right?” Trump had said before the summit, though he clarified later, “I stand with it. That’s why I’m here.”
Trump also criticised countries that failed to meet defence targets, singling out Spain and Canada as “unfair” to other allies. In response, Spain said it would not reach the 5 per cent goal, calling it “unreasonable”, while Belgium and Slovakia also expressed reservations.
UK and Nordic countries step up
Despite some dissent, several countries have already begun ramping up commitments. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced £70 million in additional military aid for Ukraine and the purchase of 12 US made F-35 fighter jets. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb called the moment “the birth of a new NATO”.
Countries bordering Russia, including Poland, the Baltic states, and Nordic allies, supported the increased target.
Hungary breaks ranks, downplays Russian threat
However, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán downplayed the danger, saying, “Russia is not strong enough to represent a real threat to us. We are far stronger.” Orbán, seen as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in the EU, has frequently diverged from NATO consensus on Russia.
