As NATO leaders converge in The Hague for their highly anticipated summit, the question of U.S. President Donald Trump’s commitment to the 32-member alliance hangs heavy in the air. Despite meticulously choreographed efforts to ensure a smooth and productive meeting, the volatile American leader launched a pre-summit verbal grenade, casting doubt on the very cornerstone of NATO’s collective defense.
Arriving in The Hague, President Trump refused to unequivocally reaffirm the U.S. commitment to NATO’s Article 5, the fundamental principle stating that an attack on one member is an attack on all. “Depends on your definition. There’s numerous definitions of Article Five,” Trump told journalists aboard Air Force One, comments that undoubtedly unsettled European allies gathering for a pre-summit dinner. While later in the summit he stated “We’re with them all the way” on Article 5, his initial equivocation caused significant concern.
In a move likely intended for private consumption but swiftly made public by Trump, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte showered the U.S. President with effusive praise. “Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win,” Rutte wrote in a caps-filled missive, which Trump promptly posted on social media. “You are flying into another big success in The Hague this evening. It was not easy but we’ve got them all signed on to five percent,” Rutte added, seemingly crediting Trump for the alliance’s new spending targets.
Historic Spending Pledge Amidst Tensions
Indeed, a central focus of the summit is a new, significantly increased defense spending pledge. On Wednesday, NATO allies are set to formally endorse a commitment to spend 3.5 percent of their GDP on core defense, with an additional 1.5 percent allocated to broader security-related areas such as cybersecurity and critical infrastructure. This collective target of 5 percent of GDP marks a substantial increase from the previous 2 percent guideline and represents a major political victory for President Trump, who has long advocated for greater burden-sharing by European members.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the agreement, stating, “The Europe of defence has finally awakened. Tomorrow the summit will set historic new spending targets for NATO allies.” This new target, to be achieved by 2035, reflects the alliance’s response to an evolving global security landscape, including persistent threats from Russia and growing concerns about China’s military expansion.
However, not all allies are uniformly enthusiastic about the new targets. Spain, Belgium, and Slovakia have reportedly expressed concerns about their ability to meet the ambitious 5 percent goal. Spain, in particular, has indicated it will struggle to reach the target by 2035, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stating that the current 2 percent is “sufficient, realistic and compatible with the welfare state.” President Trump has been quick to criticize such stances, even threatening economic repercussions.
The summit takes place against a backdrop of escalating global instability, including the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, which overshadowed some of the initial discussions. Despite these geopolitical complexities and internal disagreements, NATO leaders are aiming to project an image of unity and resolve, signaling a “stronger, fairer, and more lethal alliance” to deter aggression and ensure collective security.
*
Email *
Website
