NATO Members Agree to Increase Defense Spending to 5% of GDP
Members of NATO have reportedly reached a consensus to boost defense expenditures to 5% of their GDP over the next ten years. This outcome is seen as a significant win for US President Donald Trump, who has been advocating for increased financial contributions from American allies to shore up their defense budgets.
Before this week’s NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, representatives agreed in principle to aim for a 5% defense spending target by 2035. This development, first reported by Germany’s public broadcaster, marks the first formal establishment of a spending minimum, with the previous target set at 2% during the 2014 Cardiff Summit.
Interestingly, many NATO countries, including Portugal, Italy, Canada, Belgium, and Spain, still have not achieved the 2% target after more than ten years of commitment.
The new agreement, instigated by pressure from the Trump administration, stipulates that at least 3.5% of GDP must be allocated directly to military expenditures, while the remaining 1.5% is allowed for related defense spending.
Initially, Spain, under a socialist government, threatened to block the agreement but eventually withdrew that intention after negotiating exemptions from the spending requirements.
Last year, Spain struggled to meet its NATO spending obligation of 2% of its GDP. In fact, it spent only 1.28% on defense, making it the lowest among NATO members. Pedro Sanchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, described the required military investment as “disproportionate and unnecessary,” but he did indicate that the country would comply with the new mandates.
On the other hand, Poland—a leading contributor—committed earlier this year to meet the 5% target after surpassing 4% in the previous year, a move driven by rising concerns about Russian aggression in Eastern Europe.
This collective decision to elevate defense spending to 5% represents a notable achievement for President Trump, who during his first term in office was vocal about European nations depending on American military support while underfunding their own defense budgets.
Germany often took the brunt of Trump’s criticisms. As the wealthiest nation in Europe, it faced repeated accusations for failing to fulfill NATO spending commitments while continuing substantial energy imports from Russia.
In 2018, Trump was outspoken about Germany’s financial dealings with Moscow, despite concerns over Russian aggression, arguing that the US was protecting its allies while they engaged in potentially dangerous relationships.
The liberal political sphere and various media figures often portrayed Trump’s methods as isolating to other Western allies. However, it’s believed that his candid approach ultimately strengthened NATO’s influence.
Back in 2019, then-NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged that Trump’s firm stance was crucial in securing an additional $100 billion in spending commitments from NATO allies.
