NATO’s annual summit kicked off Tuesday in The Hague under tight security measures, as member nations debate a proposed increase in defense spending to 5% of their GDP by 2035. The two-day meeting comes amid rising global tensions following a recent U.S. airstrike on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The Dutch government has transformed The Hague into a fortified zone, deploying F-35 fighter jets and Patriot missile systems to ensure the safety of the summit. Leaders from NATO’s 32 member countries are expected to discuss the proposed defense spending target, which includes 3.5% for direct military expenditures and 1.5% for related investments such as infrastructure.
Eastern European nations have largely supported the increase, viewing it as a necessary step to bolster security. However, divisions remain within the alliance. U.S. President Donald Trump stated that while Washington would not be bound by the 5% goal, he urged other member states to fulfill their commitments. Reports suggest that Trump considered skipping the summit entirely to pressure allies into agreeing to the target.
Germany, France, and Britain have emphasized the importance of defense autonomy and pledged continued support for Ukraine. Meanwhile, Spain has expressed reservations about the 5% benchmark. Although Spain agreed to the softened draft communiqué, it committed to maintaining defense spending at 2.1% of GDP rather than adhering to the new target.
This year’s summit is notably scaled back compared to last year’s meeting in Washington, both in terms of duration and agenda. With U.S. attention shifting away from Ukraine, discussions on the topic have been significantly reduced. The NATO-Ukraine Council leaders’ meeting, a highlight of previous summits, has been omitted from this year’s schedule.
Engagements with Indo-Pacific partners have also been minimized. Instead of a multilateral leaders’ meeting, the NATO secretary general will hold smaller, closed-door sessions with representatives from relevant countries.
Another critical issue on the summit’s agenda is the fallout from the U.S. strike on Iran, which has drawn international criticism. Several NATO members are advocating for diplomatic efforts to ease escalating tensions, with discussions likely to address the broader conflict involving Israel and Iran.
As the summit unfolds, the world watches to see how NATO will navigate these complex challenges and what decisions will shape the alliance’s future direction.
