Under Trump's pressure, Nato commits to 5% defense spending by 2035; restates 'ironclad commitment' to collective defense
US President Donald Trump, left, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrive before the start of a plenary session of the NATO summit of heads of state and government in The Hague.
Nato leaders on Wednesday agreed to a sweeping increase in defense and security spending, pledging to invest 5% of GDP annually by 2035, in a move widely seen as a response to mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump.
The 32-member alliance also reaffirmed its 'ironclad commitment' to mutual defense under Article 5, but not before Trump's earlier remarks sparked concern among allies.
The final joint statement read, 'Allies commit to invest 5% of GDP annually on core defense requirements as well as defense- and security-related spending by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective obligations.' A mid-point review is scheduled for 2029 to assess progress and reassess threats, notably from Russia.
Trump's Article 5 ambiguity rattles allies
Trump, who had raised eyebrows on his way to the summit by saying his support for Article 5 'depends on your definition,' attempted to clarify his position on Wednesday. 'I stand with it, that's why I'm here,' he said during a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof. Still, the earlier comment, 'There's numerous definitions of Article 5. You know that, right?', caused unease within the alliance.
Article 5, the core principle of Nato, declares that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
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Trump's hedging came as Nato leaders sought to present a united front against global security threats.
UK ramps up military commitments
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the delivery of 350 air defense missiles to Ukraine, funded by £70 million ($95 million) from interest earned on seized Russian assets. In addition, the UK will purchase 12 US-made F-35 fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons, joining Nato's shared airborne nuclear mission, the UK's biggest nuclear upgrade in a generation.
Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte welcomed the move, calling it 'yet another robust British contribution to Nato.'
'A new Nato is born,' says Finland
Finland's President Alexander Stubb described the moment as the 'birth of a new Nato,' pointing to broader burden-sharing and stronger deterrence. While many Eastern European countries backed the 5% target, Spain said it could not meet the commitment, drawing Trump's criticism. 'There's a problem with Spain.
Spain is not agreeing, which is very unfair to the rest of them, frankly,' Trump said.
Trump lashes out at media over Iran intel leaks
The summit was also marked by Trump's strong criticism of US media for reporting on a leaked intelligence assessment suggesting US airstrikes only delayed Iran's nuclear program by a few months. Trump claimed the media were being 'disgusting' and 'very unfair to the pilots, who risked their lives.'
To support his claim, the White House released a statement from Israel's Atomic Energy Commission saying the strikes, combined with Israeli operations, had set Iran's program back by 'many years.'
Hungary breaks ranks on Russia threat
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, known as Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest ally in the EU, dismissed concerns over a potential Russian attack on Nato territory. 'I think Russia is not strong enough to represent a real threat to us. We are far stronger,' he told reporters, hands in pockets.
Massive network outage hits host country
As the summit unfolded, mobile networks across the Netherlands went down. The issue stemmed from provider Odido and its subsidiaries.
While no cyberattack has been confirmed, Dutch cybersecurity officials said they would step in only if an attack is verified.
Royal hospitality, historic security
Trump, who spent the night at Huis Ten Bosch palace as a guest of Dutch King Willem-Alexander, began his day with a private breakfast with the monarch and Queen Máxima. 'The King and Queen are beautiful and spectacular people,' Trump posted on social media. 'Our breakfast meeting was great!'
The summit, held in The Hague, saw the largest security operation ever conducted in the Netherlands. Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte opened the summit with a call for unity and fairness in defense spending. 'For too long, one ally, the United States, carried too much of the burden. That changes today,' he said.
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