Leaders from NATO countries have gathered in The Hague for a significant summit, marking the first time U.S. President Donald Trump has attended since 2019. This meeting is being described as historic by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as it aims to secure peace in Europe for future generations.
During the summit, all 32 leaders are expected to agree on a commitment to increase defense spending to 5% of their national output. This ambitious target is more than double the current guideline of 2%. Before Trump’s arrival, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised him for his leadership and success in rallying support for this spending increase. Rutte expressed his appreciation for Trump’s decisive actions regarding Iran, stating that they contribute to global safety.
Rutte mentioned in a message shared by Trump on social media that the leaders were on board with the new spending commitment. He reassured the public that there was nothing embarrassing about sharing his private message. Western leaders have had to adapt to Trump’s sometimes unpredictable diplomatic style, and this summit has been adjusted to fit his schedule.
Rutte urged European allies to focus on investing in defense and supporting Ukraine rather than worrying about the U.S. commitment to NATO. He emphasized that the U.S. leadership is fully committed to the alliance and expects European nations to match its military spending. This year, Europe and Canada have pledged over $35 billion in military support for Ukraine amid ongoing conflict.
The summit comes at a time of heightened tension, with recent Russian attacks resulting in tragic casualties in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is also attending the summit, is set to meet Trump. Their previous encounters have had mixed results, with a challenging meeting at the White House earlier this year followed by a more positive interaction at a funeral in April.
NATO is expected to approve a new investment plan that raises the defense spending benchmark. Many member countries currently spend less than the proposed 3.5% of GDP on defense, but Germany has made strides towards this goal, aiming to reach it by 2029. The German government plans to allocate significant funds for defense, citing the aggressive actions of Russia as a pressing concern for the security of the Euro-Atlantic area.
The summit will include a dinner hosted by the Dutch king and a working session that will last under three hours. A key aspect of the discussions will be the wording of the commitment to the new spending target, which will encompass both core defense needs and broader defense-related expenditures.
Despite some countries, like Spain, expressing resistance to the 5% target, all NATO members are expected to sign the new pledge. The meeting is seen as a crucial moment for the alliance, as leaders come together to strengthen their commitments amid ongoing global tensions.