NATO leaders gathered today in the Netherlands to begin a two-day summit aimed at reinforcing unity among allies, addressing rising tensions with Russia, and finalizing a historic shift in defense spending targets.
U.S. Commitment
Speaking ahead of the summit’s formal opening, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte assured European allies of the United States’ unwavering commitment to the alliance, despite past criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump. “There is total commitment by the U.S. president and the U.S. senior leadership to NATO,” Rutte said, while acknowledging Washington’s expectations that Europe and Canada ramp up their defense expenditures.
NATO and U.S. flags fly at the entrance to the venue, on the first day of a NATO summit, in The Hague, Netherlands June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Toby Melville
The summit is expected to endorse a significant new defense spending goal of 5% of GDP—more than doubling the current 2% benchmark adopted in 2014. The new target, championed by Trump, divides the 5% into 3.5% for traditional defense spending and 1.5% for broader security investments, including infrastructure upgrades, cybersecurity, and energy protection.
Historic Defense Spending Increase and Ukraine War Concerns
Rutte called the lack of European spending “a huge pebble in the shoe,” referring to the imbalance between U.S. and European contributions. He also described the summit as a strong signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin that NATO remains united and prepared to defend itself.
A screem displays NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte shaking hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as they attend a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a NATO Summit, in The Hague, Netherlands June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman
Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is not participating in the summit, he indicated he hopes to meet Trump during his visit to The Hague. NATO officials are working to avoid open conflict among leaders regarding the war in Ukraine, which remains a central concern. Zelenskiy said the meeting was being coordinated, though details were still being finalized.
Russia, for its part, strongly condemned NATO’s actions and intentions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the alliance of “rampant militarization” and portraying Russia as a “fiend of hell” to justify the spending increase. “It is an alliance created for confrontation,” Peskov said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also criticized NATO’s expanding interest in regions beyond its traditional purview, including the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and the Arctic, claiming the alliance was seeking dominance far beyond Europe.
Financial Commitment
The proposed 5% GDP defense spending goal, if reached by the target year of 2035, could amount to hundreds of billions of dollars in additional annual investment. In 2024, NATO members spent over $1.3 trillion on core defense, and the new target could push that figure to around $1.75 trillion.
However, not all members are on board. Spain, for instance, signaled it does not plan to meet the 5% goal despite approving the summit’s final statement. NATO officials clarified there is no opt-out, and national defense spending will be monitored.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to media ahead of boarding Marine One to depart to attend the NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands, from the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., June 24, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
As leaders convene behind closed doors, external uncertainties—like the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran and the fragile ceasefire recently brokered by Trump—add to the summit’s unpredictability. Still, Rutte and other officials expressed determination to keep the alliance focused on modernizing capabilities and deterring threats.
Despite criticism from Moscow, NATO says its decisions are based on clear evidence of Russian aggression in Ukraine and a growing need to prepare for future risks. Rutte concluded, “I cannot predict when [the war] will end,” but emphasized that NATO must remain vigilant and united.
