NATO’s Historic Hague Summit: Defence Spending Surges, Unity Reaffirmed Amid Russia Concerns
The Netherlands just hosted the largest security operation in its history — and the stakes couldn’t have been higher.
NATO’s 32 member states gathered in The Hague for a landmark summit focused on countering the rising threat from Russia and reshaping defence strategy for the decade ahead. From surprising moments of levity to hard-hitting declarations, the two-day whirlwind produced major developments that will define global security for years.
🔺 Massive Surge in Defence Spending
The most headline-grabbing takeaway? A bold new commitment to reach 5% of GDP in defence spending within the next decade — more than double the long-standing 2% guideline. And that 5% is broken down:
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3.5% will go directly toward core defence (troops, weapons, and operations).
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1.5% can be allocated to "defence-related expenditure" — a broader category including cybersecurity, civil preparedness, infrastructure protection, innovation, and industrial resilience.
For context: only 24 NATO members currently meet the 2% target, so the 5% goal represents a monumental shift in priorities and pressure. Countries must now submit annual progress plans, with a full review scheduled for 2029.
🤝 Article Five Reaffirmed — "One for All"
Article Five — NATO’s cornerstone of collective defence — received a full-throated recommitment, even as former President Donald Trump stirred tension before the summit by questioning its interpretation.
Trump, who had previously said he might "encourage" Russia to act against members not pulling their financial weight, seemed to change tune.
“I stand with Article Five. That’s why I’m here,” he told reporters.
This reassurance was welcomed especially by member states bordering Russia. In return, Trump leaves the summit with an agreement that every NATO member will ramp up their defence spending, a longtime demand of his administration.
🇷🇺 Russia Still the Elephant in the Room
When it came to addressing the threat from Moscow, the summit walked a diplomatic tightrope.
While many NATO members — particularly those in Eastern Europe — continue to see Russia as an imminent military threat, Trump’s more muted stance shaped the summit’s final declaration.
🔹 Unlike past summits, this year’s communique did not directly condemn Russia for the war in Ukraine.
🔹 Instead, it labeled Russia a “long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security” and reaffirmed support for Ukraine — but with softer wording.
Dutch PM Mark Rutte recently warned that Russia could threaten NATO directly within five years, a concern echoed by other leaders. Yet this time, the language stopped short of overtly blaming the Kremlin for the ongoing war.
Final Word
The Hague summit marked a turning point for NATO — not just with soaring defence ambitions, but in navigating internal dynamics as global threats grow. The path ahead may be uncertain, but the alliance left The Hague with one clear message: NATO is recalibrating, reinforcing, and ready.