Netherlands: NATO attempts to present a United Front at The Hague

Last Tuesday and Wednesday, the Netherlands hosted the 32nd NATO Summit at the World Forum in The Hague. Chaired by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, the summit brought together heads of state and government from the 32 member nations, alongside representatives from partner countries and the European Union. Special attention was given to US President Donald Trump's participation, whose past skepticism toward NATO prompted a concerted charm offensive by the Dutch hosts, including official dinners at the royal palace. Also attending were NATO's four Asia-Pacific partners, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. At the summit, NATO Leaders addressed a variety of issues facing the Alliance. They focused on deterrence and defence, ensuring that NATO has the resources, forces and capabilities to face any threat.

A central achievement of the summit was the agreement by all NATO members to increase defense spending significantly, setting a new target to reach 5% of GDP by 2035. A key factor behind this significant change was Trump’s recent warning that the US might not defend NATO’s countries if they don’t meet the defense spending threshold. Spain initially opposed the five percent target, calling it excessive, but after discussions with NATO Secretary General Rutte, Spain eventually agreed. Several countries announced steps toward meeting this target. Poland, for instance, pledged to increase its defense spending to 4.7% of GDP, while the Netherlands committed to 3.5% for core defense and an additional 1.5% for related areas. Baltic nations, already among the highest spenders relative to GDP, emphasized the need for collective action to meet the new shift.

This marked a notable rise from the previous 2% spending guideline and aimed to enhance NATO’s deterrence and defense capabilities in response to the increasingly evolving international security climate. The 5% spending goal was structured in two parts, at least 3.5% of GDP must be dedicated to core military expenditures such as troops, weapons, and ammunition. So up to 1.5% can be allocated to defense- and security-related activities, including cyber defense, infrastructure protection, and defense-industrial development. “Together, Allies have laid the foundations for a stronger, fairer, more lethal NATO,” the Secretary General stated in a closing press conference. “These decisions will have a profound impact on our ability to do what NATO was founded to do – deter and defend.”

The new 5% target for defence investment, the objective of increasing defence industrial cooperation and NATO’s long-term support to Ukraine were the central themes of the Summit. The 2025 declaration emphasized sustained support for Ukraine’s defense but without mentioning membership prospects, reflecting a shift in priorities to accommodate US preferences.

Additionally, the Allies adopted a declaration that underscores their unwavering support for NATO’s collective defense and Article 5, and that the Alliance stands united in the face of the long-term threat posed by Russia. For now the Russian Federation remains NATO’s most significant and direct concern, but the inclusion of Iran as a destabilizing force and China as a systemic challenge signals wider strategic changes. Highlighting the challenges to Allied security, the Secretary General underscored, “whether from Russia or terrorism, cyberattacks, sabotage or strategic competition – this Alliance is and will remain ready, willing and able to defend every inch of Allied territory,” explaining that the new pledge would “ensure that our one billion people can continue to live in freedom and security.”

The 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague is considered as transformational and historic by leaders like Finland’s President Alexander Stubb, who compared the new defense spending pledge to Cold War-era levels. The summit’s success in securing a unified commitment to the 5% GDP target and reinforcing support for Ukraine demonstrated NATO’s resilience in an unstable geopolitical landscape. However, challenges remain, including sustaining alliance cohesion amid US policy uncertainties and addressing the financial and political implications of the new spending goals. The next summit, scheduled for 2026 in Türkiye, will build on these decisions as NATO continues to adapt to an increasingly complex security environment.