Digital editor of Europe
John Tis/AFPThe NATO leaders' meeting in The Hague agreed to increase defense costs to 5% of the economic production of their countries by 2025, after months of pressure from US President Donald Trump.
In a statement, they said they were united against “deep threats and security challenges, in particular the long-term threat represented by Russia for Euro-Atlantic security and the constant threat of terrorism.”
The Hague Summit is described by several leaders as historical, and Secretary -General Mark Rute said that the decisions made on Wednesday would include constant support for Ukraine while insisting on peace.
Leaders also said they confirm again “Iron commitment to collective protection” – Known as a guarantee of interconnection, if a member has been attacked.
The commitment to raise defense costs in 10 years includes at least 3.5% of GDP of each Member State of Defense Costs up to 2035, plus up to 1.5% with a widely defined series of investments freely related to security infrastructure.
“Too long, an ally, the United States, carried too much of the weight,” said Secretary -General Mark Ruth before the meeting began, adding, “This is changing today.”
The US President said it would be “a big victory for everyone, in my opinion. We will be leveled soon and so it should be.”
In particular, Spain objected to 5% the goal before the meeting. Economy Minister Carlos Querpo said Madrid is making a “great effort” to achieve a goal of 2.1%. “The discussion about the percentage is misled,” he told Spanish radio.
The Belgian government also expressed reservations, but Prime Minister Bart de Waver told reporters that although it would not be easy “3.5% within 10 years is a realistic goal.”
The Hague on the top of the Hague, which began with dinner on Tuesday night, organized by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, was scaled, so that the leaders' meeting on Wednesday had to continue only two and a half hours, at the end agreed a brief collapse.
Ruth told NATO leaders that they were meeting at a “dangerous moment” and that the guarantee of the Alliance for Defense for Mutual Protection – “Attack against one is an attack on everyone, sends a powerful message.”
As the leaders gathered for the traditional “family photo”, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez looked alone at the far end of the group.
Slovakia also expressed concerns about the big march expenditure, but President Peter Pellegrini said Bratislava would not stop the road.
AFPTrump's visit to The Hague was his first trip to the NATO summit since 2019, and he had to meet with Voladimir Zelenski of Ukraine on the sidelines afterwards.
However, the US President had a greater to talk about conflict in the Middle East than in the war in Ukraine when he spoke to reporters on Wednesday.
“He has little difficulty, Zelensky, a nice person,” Trump said. “I spoke to Putin a lot … He volunteered to Iran. I told me he did me a favor, help us in Russia, not Iran.”
In their final statement, NATO Member States emphasized their commitments to provide support to Ukraine, “whose security contributes to ours,” adding that the direct contribution to the defense of Kiev and its defense industry will be included in the evaluation of the allies' defense costs.
The US President appeared earlier to raise questions about the Union's mutual defense known as Article Five.
“There are numerous definitions of Member Five, you know, right?” He told Air Force One reporters on Tuesday.
Later, Mark Ruth tried to cancel concerns about Trump's comments, insisting that his European counterparts should stop worrying about the US commitment to the Western Union and focusing on investing in defense and support of Ukraine.
The United Kingdom Prime Minister Sir Kiir Starmer said that NATO is just as relevant and important now as before: “We live in a very variable world and today is for the unity of NATO, showing this power. We are more bigger than we were before, we are stronger than we were before.”