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Donald Trump's influence at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, results in a new 5% defense spending target.

About NATO  

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949, is a military alliance comprising 32 member countries, including the United States, Canada, and most European nations.

Its primary aim is to ensure collective defence and security, with Article 5 of the Washington Treaty stating that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

NATO's main headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium.

Highlights of the Summit 2025

5% Defence Spending Target by 2035

NATO allies agreed to increase their defence spending to 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2035. The breakdown includes:

• 3.5% for core defence spending, such as military equipment and personnel.
• 1.5% for defence-related expenditures, encompassing infrastructure, cybersecurity, innovation, and strengthening the defence industrial base.

Implementation => Allies are required to submit annual plans to meet this target and follow a "credible, incremental path." A review of progress is expected after the 2029 U.S. presidential election, ensuring accountability.

Current Spending Context => According to NATO estimates, in 2024, the U.S. spent 3.2% of its GDP on defence, while countries like Poland (4.1%), Estonia (3.4%), and Latvia (3.4%) already exceeded the 3.5% core defence target. However, many NATO members, particularly in Western Europe, have historically flowed around the 2% mark.

Controversies and Exceptions => Spain, which allocated 1.24% of its GDP to defence in 2024, announced it would not follow the 5% target, this exception highlights internal divisions within NATO, with some experts arguing the target could strain economies and reduce public services

Reaffirmation of Article 5

Article 5, the collective defence clause, is the bedrock of NATO’s existence. It states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all, and each member will take necessary action, including armed force, to restore security.

The principle of "One for All, All for One" has attracted new members, such as Finland and Sweden, which joined NATO following the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. The reaffirmation strengthens NATO’s credibility.

During the 2025 summit, all NATO allies, including Trump, reaffirmed their "ironclad commitment" to Article 5.

Shift in Focus Away from Ukraine

Since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022, NATO summits have prioritized aiding Ukraine, with 2024 seeing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy feted and NATO ensuring an "irreversible" path to membership.

Under Trump’s leadership, the 2025 summit saw a reduced focus on Ukraine. Trump, who has maintained cordial relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin since his first term (2017-2021), has ruled out Ukraine’s NATO membership and paused U.S. military aid. The NATO declaration mentioned the "long-term threat posed by Russia" without specifically condemning Russia’s actions, a departure from previous years.

The reduced focus aligns with Trump’s broader foreign policy, which emphasizes burden-sharing with European allies and reducing U.S. involvement in certain conflicts.  

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North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) 

Source: 

INDIAN EXPRESS