Shafaq News – The Hague
NATO member states agreed on Wednesday to raise theirdefense spending to 5% of national GDP by 2035, responding to sustainedpressure from US President Donald Trump and marking the alliance’s mostsignificant funding commitment in decades.
The decision, made during a summit in The Hague,includes a core commitment of at least 3.5% for direct defence expenditures,with up to an additional 1.5% allocated to broader investments related tosecurity infrastructure.
In a joint statement, leaders said they remained unitedin the face of "profound security threats," citing Russia as along-term danger to Euro-Atlantic stability and reaffirming their “ironclad”commitment to NATO’s collective defence clause, Article Five. However, unlikepast communiqués, there was no direct mention of Russian aggression in Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance isbecoming “stronger, fairer and more lethal,” emphasizing unity and deterrencein the face of growing geopolitical challenges. “No one should doubt ourcapacity or determination should our security be challenged,” he added.
President Trump, attending his first NATO summit since2019, described the outcome as a “big success” and said the new fundingframework would ensure greater equality among member states.
Not all members embraced the 5% target equally. Spainhad voiced objections before the summit, with Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpocalling the figure "misguided," but Prime Minister Pedro Sánchezultimately signed the agreement, stating it was compatible with Spain’sexisting commitments. Belgium and Slovakia also raised concerns, though bothsignaled they would work toward the revised target.
As of last year, 22 of NATO’s 32 members met orexceeded the previously agreed 2% GDP target, but the new benchmark willsignificantly raise expectations across the alliance.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( NATO leaders pledge major defense spending increase )
Also on site :
- European militarization robbing taxpayers – Lavrov
- Sleek New Costco Air Fryer Is PFAS-Free, Portable, and Built for Speed
- Tobey Maguire's 'Spider-Man' Trilogy Returns to Theaters With Rare Extended Cut