President Donald Trump will speak at the media conference at the end of the NATO summit on Wednesday, June 25th, 2025 in The Hague, Netherlands, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses are listening.
Alex Brandon/AP Photo
Hide captions
Toggle caption
Alex Brandon/AP Photo
The Hague, Netherlands – NATO summit in the Netherlands on Wednesday is said to be “transformative” and “historical.” “We’re witnessing The birth of a new NATO“Finland President Alexander Stubb said.
Thirty-two members of the world’s largest security organization have approved a plan to significantly increase defense spending “back to Cold War defence spending levels” driven by US President Donald Trump and Russia’s fears of security threats raised.
There are several takeaways from below Two-day meeting In The Hague.
Tens of thousands of dollars in new military spending
Non-binding spending contracts mean a sudden budget hike for NATO members and Canada, costing tens of millions of dollars.
This is a major update in the way NATO calculates defensive spending. Until now, allies had set a target of 2% of gross domestic product for their defence budget. Currently, they are aiming to reach 3.5% by 2035.
They are now able to include the weapons and ammunition they supply to Ukraine in the formula, making new targets slightly easier to reach, but still difficult for Canada and many European countries with economic problems.
In addition, the allies will devote 1.5% of their GDP to upgrade infrastructure such as roads, bridges, ports and airfields. It can include money spent protecting the network and preparing society for future conflicts.
Progress will be reviewed in 2029 after the next US presidential election.
Not everyone is on board. Spain officially rejected the agreement. We had bookings in Slovakia. Belgium, France and Italy struggle to meet new targets.
NATO Executive Director Mark Latte will speak at the media conference at the NAGO Summit held in The Hague, Netherlands on Wednesday, June 25th, 2025.
Matthias Schrader/AP
Hide captions
Toggle caption
Matthias Schrader/AP
Trump’s commitment to collective defense
Leaders reaffirmed “Ironclad’s commitment” to NATO’s collective defense clauses. Article 5. In recent years, Trump has sowed some sort of doubt as to whether the US, the most powerful member of NATO, would help allies under attack.
Trump appeared to be in support of higher defensive spending. On NATO’s new spending pledge, he told reporters, “I left there saying these people really love their country. It’s not Lipov. And we’re here to help them protect their country.”
He added, “They want to protect their country, and they need the US, and without the US it wouldn’t be the same.”
Bystander Ukraine
After Russia began and invaded Ukraine The biggest land conflict Since World War II in 2022, the NATO Summit has focused primarily on providing support to Kiev. This summit was different.
Previously, the focus was on the outlook for Ukrainian membership, bringing it closer to NATO without actually participating. However, this final summit statement made no such mention.
Instead, the leaders emphasized “their lasting sovereign commitment to providing support to Ukraine.”
Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky was at the venue. He dined with other leaders at the Dutch King’s residence, discussed with several leaders, spent about 30 minutes with Trump.
NATO’s plan was to focus the meetings solely on Trump’s pet cause, defense spending. The Foreign Minister met Ukrainian counterparts and bystanders at the official NATO-Ukraine Council.
With a minor Ukraine victory and the allies that need to persuade citizens that the government must spend more on defense, Russia has been identified as a standout in the “deep security threats and challenges” facing NATO.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schuf will speak with Ukrainian President Voldy Mirzelensky at a meeting at Catsheze, a bystander at the Netherlands NAGU Summit.
Markus Schreiber/AP
Hide captions
Toggle caption
Markus Schreiber/AP
“A lovely group of people”
If there was any doubt that the US operates NATO, the Summit removed them. A very shortened summit and one-page statement were prepared to make the President of the United States happy and focused.
When Trump flew to the Netherlands, NATO executive director Mark Latte Text Message He vents what he’s on at the brink of great accomplishments, saying, “Europe is going to pay in a bigger way as it should, and that’s what will be your victory.”
Trump posted a message on social media. Latte said he wasn’t embarrassed and that it was all true.
After the meeting, Trump said he came to the summit, deeming it a political chore, but he was sure the assembled leaders loved the Alliance, their country, and mostly the United States.
He called the NATO leaders a “good group of people” and said “almost everyone is “thank you to America to God.” “I said.
