President Donald Trump attended a NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on Wednesday, where member states agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) over the next decade.
The agreement represents a significant shift from the current NATO target of 2% of GDP and aligns with President Trump’s long-standing calls for greater financial contributions from alliance members.
Trump described the decision as a positive development for NATO’s collective security.
During the summit, Trump also raised questions about Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which commits members to mutual defense in the event of an attack.
He suggested that U.S. support could depend on whether other nations meet their defense commitments.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the alliance’s unity and reiterated the importance of collective defense.
Officials stated that the increased spending is intended to enhance NATO’s defense readiness and capacity to address emerging global security threats.
