NATO allies agree to hike defense spending, reaffirm collective defense
NATO allies on Wednesday pledged to increase their annual defense spending to a total of 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035 and reaffirmed their commitment to collective defense, stating that 'an attack on one is an attack on all.'
In the declaration of their summit in The Hague, NATO leaders said the defense pledge would consist of investments of at least 3.5 percent of GDP per year in core defense requirements.
They also vowed to spend up to 1.5 percent of GDP on security-related expenditures including protection of critical infrastructure and strengthening the alliance's defense industrial base.
These investments were needed to face 'profound security threats,' the leaders said, citing in particular the 'long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security and the persistent threat of terrorism.'
Progress on the elevated spending targets, up from the current goal of 2 percent of GDP, will be reviewed in 2029.
Allies reaffirmed their 'enduring sovereign commitments' to support Ukraine, but left out references to Ukraine's possible future membership of the alliance, that had been included in some previous summit declarations.
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