NATO leaders meeting in the Netherlands have agreed to increase the defense budgets of member states to 5% of their GDP.
This decision has been made in response to security threats, particularly from Russia.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump described the agreement as a major victory and a sign of Europe’s commitment to collective security.
The US president stated: “We’re with them all the way, I mean if you take a look at the numbers, we’re with them. And there are very big things to announce today, I don’t know if you’ve taken the vote or if you’re going to take the vote, but I’ve been asking them to go up to 5% (in defence spending) for a number of years, and they’re going up to 5%.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also described Russia as a real threat in his speech and said that NATO members, despite political difficulties, are compelled to increase defense budgets.
He added: “The countries have to find the money. It’s not easy. These are political decisions. I totally recognise that. But at the same time, there is absolute conviction with my colleagues at the table that, given this threat from the Russians, given the international security situation, there is no alternative. We’ve got to do this, really.”
Leaders of the UK, Germany, France, and other NATO member states have also warned of the Russian threat. Alongside pledging support for Ukraine against Russian attacks, they also called for increased pressure on Moscow to achieve an unconditional ceasefire.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “On the question of Ukraine, the position in NATO has not changed, nor has my position changed. In fact, over the last couple of days, I would say in my discussions with leaders, there’s been a real resolve, that now is the time to push again to get (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to the table for the unconditional ceasefire.”
German Prime Minister Friedrich Merz stated: “We will take a decision that in the future NATO will make an additional 3.5% and 1.5% available for infrastructure for our armed forces.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said: “Let me remind you and put this back in the middle of discussions – because there is a Russian threat. I said a couple of months ago to our fellow citizens, for years now, we have been living through the third Russian war in Europe, which brings this threat.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said that he held talks with Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit. According to Zelensky, the main focus of the meeting was exploring ways to reach a ceasefire and lay the groundwork for lasting peace in Ukraine.
