Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the Organization of the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO), on the left, and US President Donald Trump during the NATO summit in the Hague in the Netherlands, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
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NATO allies on Wednesday agreed over twice twice the purpose of defense expenditure from 2% of the gross domestic product to 5% to 2035, in the most decisive transition from the alliance for over a decade.
In a joint declaration, the Western military block said that “he was united in the face of deep threats of security and challenges,” in particular the long -term threat posed by Russia for the security of Euro -Atlantic and “persistent threat” of terrorism.
“Allies undertake to invest 5% of GDP per year in basic defense requirements, as well as expenses related to defense and security by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective responsibilities,” he concluded.
5% number consists of “at least” 3.5% of GDP, which should be spent on “pure” defense, and the rest went to security and “critical infrastructure” to ensure that “our civic readiness and immunity, release of innovation and strengthen our industrial base.”
Allies will have to submit an annual plans “showing a reliable, incremental path to achieve this goal,” NATO said, after redemption of some Member States, especially Spain.
Some Member States still have to achieve the goal of 2014 to spend 2% of GDP on defense.
Historical movement appears against the background of tensions in the Middle East and the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Members were also forced to have a new goal after years of pressure on both conditions of the US President Donald Trump for Canadian and European allies in Washington to share a greater burden on collective defense.
The alliance on Wednesday was also confirmed by “Ironclad's commitment to collective defense”, as in art. 5 that the attack on one is an attack on everyone, after traces of questions over the reliability of the USA, when it comes to this central pillar of NATO.
“We remain united and steadfast in our determination to protect our billions of citizens, defend the alliance and secure our freedom and democracy,” we read in a statement.
“Quantum jump”
Asking the summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the agreement would fuel the “quantum jump” in the collective defense of the alliance.
The agreement “would not only increase our security, but also created,” Rutte continued, saying that the allies undertook “significant obligations to fulfill significant threats.”
He said that allies recognized the severity of the threats that the alliance faced, and “they united in understanding that we must accelerate to keep safety.”
Haga, the Netherlands – June 25: NATO leaders listen to how the Secretary General NATO Mark Rutte submits the opening statements during the plenary session of the North Atlantic Council on the second day of the NATO 2025 summit on June 25, 2025 in the Hague in the Netherlands. This year's NATO summit, which connects the heads of state and government from the entire military alliance, takes place for the first time in the Netherlands. Among other things, members are to approve a new investment plan in defense, which raises the purpose of defense expenditure to 5% of GDP. (Photo Brendan Czamialowski – swimming pool images/getty)
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He said that President Trump emphasized that America is involved in NATO, but expects European allies and Canada to contribute to a larger one, “and this is what we see,” said Rutte.
Rutte admitted that it was the “first day” of the effort needed to increase the possibility of defending the Alliance and said: “We must introduce innovation and we must act quickly.”
“The decisions made today will make NATO much stronger, make NATO also a fair alliance. Solution of allies is clear: we are involved in this time, involved in Article 5, and we are determined to stand firmly,” he said.
Rutte said that when he asked the press questions with Trump, he said: “I think he deserves all praise.”
When he came to the top at the end on Tuesday, Trump seemed to question the central principle of NATO collective defense (Article 5), which states that the attack on one member is an attack on everyone.
“There are many definitions of Art. 5. You know that, right?” Trump told journalists at Air Force One. “But I am involved in being their friends, you know, I made friends with many of these leaders and I am involved in helping them.”
Rutte said on Wednesday that he trusted the president and that the US was “completely devoted” to the pact, stating: “You know, Article 5 is absolutely clear, and at the same time we always said that we would never discuss in detail when Article 5 will be caused.”
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