Increased Military Budget Approved by NATO, Delighting Trump
**NATO Agrees to Increase Defense Spending to 5% GDP by 2035**
At the 2025 NATO summit, members have agreed to raise their defense spending target from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035, marking a significant shift in the alliance's approach to collective defense and military preparedness.
This new goal includes both core defense requirements and other defense and security-related spending, with 3.5% dedicated to core defense to meet NATO's capability goals. The decision is largely driven by concerns over Russia's military actions, including its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
NATO sees this spending increase as essential to bolstering its military preparedness and deterrence capabilities against potential threats from Russia. However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has downplayed the impact of the increased spending on Russia's security, suggesting that Russia's own defense strategies and goals are unaffected by NATO's decisions.
The new spending target presents fiscal and operational challenges for NATO members. It requires careful management to ensure that increased spending translates into enhanced military capabilities and does not merely focus on resource allocation without meaningful strategic outcomes.
President Donald Trump expressed satisfaction with the summit, stating that the allies need the United States for their defense. Trump has previously denigrated NATO allies as freeloaders, but the summit's communique included a restatement of the allies' commitment to collective defense in Article 5 of the NATO pact.
The agreement was presented as a victory for Trump, with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praising him for pushing the Europeans to do what was necessary in their own interests. Rutte sent a private text message to Trump, stating that the agreement would be something no American president in decades could achieve.
However, some countries, including Spain, Slovakia, and Belgium, have expressed doubts about their ability to meet the 5% spending target. Many governments, especially those in western Europe, will face a difficult political task to convince their publics about the need for increased defense spending.
Rizzo emphasized that the new spending must translate into hard military capabilities quickly. An additional 1.5% will be allocated to "militarily adjacent" projects like improved infrastructure, healthcare, cybersecurity, and civic resilience. The review may affect the forces NATO wants each ally to have, including troop numbers and equipment.
The communique did not mention the prospect of Ukraine's future membership in the alliance, but Rutte reiterated NATO's long-standing pledge of eventually admitting Ukraine. Rutte promised continued support for Ukraine with money and equipment.
Sen. Christopher Coons praised the agreement, calling it a landmark summit and a significant step forward toward a shared commitment to collective security. Trump has ordered a review of U.S. troop deployment and future placement. Some intelligence agencies have warned of a potential Russian threat to Europe within three to five years after the end of the Ukraine war.
- The increase in NATO defense spending to 5% GDP by 2035 also encompasses other defense and security-related expenditures, with particular focus on healthcare and cybersecurity.
- The new spending target necessitates careful planning to ensure that it not only boosts military preparedness but also strengthens general-news aspects like infrastructure and civic resilience.
