NATO members agree to spend 5% of GDP on defense, reaffirm 'enduring' support for Ukraine

06/25/2025June 25, 2025

Europe and Canada to do 'more of the heavy lifting,' Rutte says

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that Europe and Canada would need to contribute more to the military alliance.

"They agreed to boost our defense industries which will not only increase our security but will also create jobs," Rutte said, adding "we have confirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine."

He said it meant that the alliance could defend itself from every kind of threat, including from Russia.

The 5% of GDP spending on defense that was agreed on, is broken down into 3.5%, which is "to fund our militaries and the equipment they need, from our air defenses to ammunition, drones, tanks, troops, and more," and 1.5% of GDP for investments into defense and security.

"President Trump has been clear: America is committed to NATO," Rutte said amid concerns over the US president's statements on Tuesday.

"He affirmed that again today in no uncertain terms. At the same time, he made clear that America expects European allies and Canada to contribute more. And that is exactly what we see them doing."

They will "do more of the heavy lifting, equalizing their spending and taking greater responsibility for our shared security," Rutte said.

The NATO chief said that after agreeing on increasing defense spending, the next step is to boost defense industries among the allies to meet the new challenges.

06/25/2025June 25, 2025

NATO allies vow continued support for Ukraine

NATO allies have declared Russia a "long-term threat" to Euro-Atlantic security and pledged continued support for Ukraine in a joint summit statement released Wednesday.

In a declaration adopted in The Hague, the alliance's 32 member states said they were "united in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security."

"Allies reaffirm their enduring sovereign commitments to provide support to Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours," the statement said.

06/25/2025June 25, 2025

NATO leaders endorse hike in defense spending to 5% of GDP

World leaders meeting at a NATO summit in the Netherlands have voted to endorse a higher defense spending goal of 5% of GDP.

"Allies commit to invest five percent of GDP annually on core defence requirements as well as defence- and security-related spending by 2035," the alliance's member states said in a joint statement.

They also stressed their "ironclad commitment" to NATO's collective security guarantee "that an attack on one is an attack on all."

The approval comes in response to a demand by US President Donald Trump, but also reflects European fears of a growing threat to security from Russia.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters ahead of the vote: "There is absolute conviction with my colleagues at the table that, given this threat from the Russians, given the international security situation, there is no alternative." 

However, Spain announced prior to the vote that it wouldn't be able to reach the target by the new 2035 deadline, Belgium also signaled that it wouldn't get there before the deadline, and Slovakia said it reserves the right to decide its own defense spending.

06/25/2025June 25, 2025

Germany to procure new cruise missiles from Norway

The cruise missiles will be fitted to F-35 fighter jets ordered from the USImage: BO AMSTRUP/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images

Germany is to buy new cruise missiles from Norway to arm the 35 stealth F-35 jets it has ordered from the US, the German Defense Ministry said.

The agreement to buy the missiles for  €677 million ($786 million) was signed on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague.

"This arrangement implements what we have set as our goal in Europe and in NATO: joint procurements to reduce time, bureaucracy and cost," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said after the signing.

"Thanks to this joint initiative, we will receive the first cruise missiles before the end of 2027. This is not just fast procurement — to be honest, it is almost supersonic speed," he added.

The missiles concerned are known as Joint Strike Missiles (JSM). They can be used against both land and sea targets and are capable of flying under enemy radar and changing course in mid-flight, the ministry said.

The purchase is to be financed both from a special fund to refurbish the Bundeswehr and the normal defense budget.

06/25/2025June 25, 2025

Trump on Article 5: 'We're with them all the way'

US President Donald Trump has appeared to reinforce the US' commitment to NATO's mutual defense clause after casting doubt on it.

When asked about the relevant Article 5 of NATO's charter, he told reporters, "We're with them all the way."

Trump had earlier said there were "numerous definitions" of the clause.

The US president made the remarks ahead of his appearance at a summit of the military alliance in The Hague, Netherlands.

06/25/2025June 25, 2025

Finnish president says 'new NATO' is taking shape

Finland's President Alexander Stubb said that Europe was undertaking a greater responsibility in the NATO alliance to deter Russia amid huge hikes in military spending which rival those of the Cold War era.

"I think we're witnessing the birth of a new NATO, which means a more balanced NATO and a NATO which has more European responsibility," Stubb said. 

06/25/2025June 25, 2025

Poland's Duda says there should be 'no discussion' on Article 5

Polish President Andrzej Duda has said that NATO's Article 5 commitment to collective defense could not be disputed.

"Article 5 is clear ... and means collective defense and there is no discussion about this article," Duda as he arrived at the second day of the NATO summit on Wednesday. 

06/25/2025June 25, 2025

Spain expects 'no repercussions' after refusing to meet 5% defense spending target

Spain's Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said that his country does not expect any repercussions after refusing the 5% defense spending target that NATO member countries are mulling in The Hague.

"Spain will be a responsible ally," Cuerpo told Bloomberg TV, stressing that the country would meet all its military capabilities commitments towards NATO.

Spain has said that it would not spend more than 2.1% of its gross domestic product in defense because its military capabilities pledges towards the transnational military alliance do not require more.

"No repercussions should derive from making good on our commitments and from being a reliable NATO ally, covering for the capabilities that we did commit to and that are necessary to defend NATO from the different threats that have been identified by experts," Cuerpo added.

06/25/2025June 25, 2025

Higher defense spending unavoidable, says NATO chief Rutte

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that there was no alternative to higher defense spending in view of ongoing threats. 

"Given our long-term threat of Russia, but also the massive build-up of the military in China, and the fact that North Korea, China and Iran are supporting the war effort in Ukraine, it's really important we spend more. So that will be number one on the agenda today," Rutte told journalists before heading to meet NATO leaders on Wednesday.

The Dutch politician also stressed that the United States was "totally committed" to NATO's Article 5, the alliance's mutual defence clause. 

"For me, there is absolute clarity that the United States has totally committed to NATO, totally committed to Article 5," Rutte said.

Rutte's remarks came after US President Donald Trump appeared to signal his doubts on the clause on the previous day. 

Trump had refused to comment on the key Article 5 clause, which says that an  attack on one member is an attack on all.

 "Depends on your definition. There's numerous definitions of Article 5," he said while addressing reporters on Tuesday. The president added that he was "committed" to being a "friend."

06/25/2025June 25, 2025

Last day of NATO summit begins in The Hague

The ongoing NATO summit in The Hague has entered its second and final day. 

Yesterday, US President Donald Trump arrived in the Dutch city hoping for a breakthrough in his long-standing demand for European allies to increase defense spending.

Members of the US-dominated military alliance are expected to hike their defense spending to 5% of their economic output. 

06/25/2025June 25, 2025

We're pausing the blog for now because it's very late at night in Europe

06/25/2025June 25, 2025

NATO summit: What to know if you're joining us now

NATO leaders gather for a pre-summit dinner at the Dutch royal palaceImage: Remko de Waal/ANP/IMAGO

US President Donald Trump is in The Hague for the NATO summit, where defense leaders are expected to raise their defense spending to 5% of their national output.

This could be a big win for the US president who has for years asked European allies to contribute to their national security.

Trump has had a rocky relationship with NATO leaders, suggesting at times the US may not defend allies who do not contribute enough to defense spending.

Asked whether the US remains committed to NATO's Article 5 clause, Trump told reporters on Air Force One (on his way to Europe) that: "Depends on your definition. There are numerous definitions of Article 5. You know that, right? But I’m committed to being their friends."

Still, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Trump in a personal letter the US leader shared to his Truth Social account.

Another big topic will be Russia's war in Ukraine. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were at the Dutch royal palace for dinner together earlier this evening as well.

But Trump was seated next to like-minded Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. Their table is shared by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Mark Rutte. 

06/24/2025June 24, 2025

IN PICTURES: NATO leaders arrive for dinner with King Willem-Alexander

06/24/2025June 24, 2025

Rutte certain of US commitment to mutual defense pact

Rutte said Europe and the United States must meet the challenge of rearmament togetherImage: Markus Schreiber/AP Photo/picture alliance

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he has no doubt about the US commitment to the alliance's Article 5 mutual defense clause.

"I have no doubt that the US is totally committed to NATO, totally committed to Article 5," Rutte told reporters in The Hague.

He made the remarks after President Donald Trump, on his way to a summit of NATO leaders, said there were "numerous" definitions of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty,

Asked later to clarify, Trump said he was "committed to saving lives. I'm committed to life and safety. And I'm going to give you an exact definition when I get there."

06/24/2025June 24, 2025

EU's Kallas urges NATO to 'help Ukraine more' by investing more in defense

The EU's top foreign policy representative Kaja Kallas spoke to DW's Alexandra von Nahmen on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on Tuesday, where the diplomat said member states, "can help Ukraine more if they invest more in defense."

Kallas said US President Donald Trump has been cajoling NATO states to spend more on defense, "for quite some time." But, she added: "Many didn't just listen, but now, we are in the security situation that we are. And most of the European countries have realized that we actually need to do this."

"Times have changed," said Kallas when asked about the fact that Ukraine was not going to be at the top of the NATO agenda this week. "But for Europe, Ukraine is our top priority. And that's why we are committing to helping Ukraine. We are committed to putting more pressure on Russia so that they would also want peace."

Asked why Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who will be at the summit, won't play a larger role, she simply said, "you know why."

Kallas also spoke of the need to put defense production into high gear. "We are also cooperating with the Ukraine defense industry because they have actually created the defense industry from scratch," said Kallas, adding that the Ukrainians have been "very creative and very innovative" and that "there's a lot we can learn from them."

Ukraine has been keen on joining NATO as well as the European Union. Its NATO aspirations look highly unlikely to feature prominently in The Hague.

Still, Kallas did not close the door on Ukraine's EU bid, saying: "We also have the European [Council] summit coming up this week. We should move with the enlargement track because that is the hope for the Ukrainian people. We need to show that Europe is their family."