European nations have agreed to raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP after key talks at the NATO summit. This move comes amid growing global security threats and follows criticism from former US President Trump, who urged allies to shoulder more military responsibility. The decision marks a significant shift in Europe’s defense posture to strengthen NATO’s collective security.

European Nations to Raise Defense Spending to 5% of GDP: NATO Summit Outcome

European nations have agreed to significantly increase their defense budgets, aiming to spend up to 5% of their GDP on military needs over the next decade. This decision was finalized at the NATO summit held in The Hague, Netherlands, where former US President Donald Trump pushed hard for greater European contributions to collective security.

NATO Reaffirms Collective Defense Commitment

In a joint statement after the summit, NATO members reiterated their commitment to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, which treats an attack on one member as an attack on all. The primary agenda of this summit was to discuss how European nations could shoulder a larger share of NATO’s defense costs. Trump has long argued that while the US bears most of NATO’s expenses, European nations are not fulfilling their fair share.

Currently, European contributions make up only about 30% of NATO’s overall spending, averaging roughly 2% of their GDP. Trump wants each member to reach at least 5% of GDP spending on defense.

Disagreements Over Budget Sharing

The summit exposed sharp differences among NATO allies. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte acknowledged that while the alliance can handle threats like Ukraine, internal disagreements over defense budgets remain deep. Trump even refused to give an outright endorsement of NATO’s key Article 5 promise, which ensures mutual defense.

A New Proposal: 3.5% for Military, 1.5% for Related Areas

In an effort to balance demands, Secretary-General Rutte introduced a plan requiring members to allocate 3.5% of GDP directly to military and weapons, and another 1.5% to broader security activities. This additional 1.5% is loosely defined, giving countries flexibility to classify many expenses as defense-related.

Nations like Poland, Estonia, and Lithuania — which feel most threatened by Russia — are aggressively moving to meet these targets. However, many European countries are lagging far behind and may not reach these goals even by 2032 or 2035.

Spain Pushes Back on Spending Hike

While Rutte hoped all 32 NATO members would support the proposal, Spain flatly rejected the idea of spending 5% of its GDP on defense. The Spanish government, already grappling with corruption scandals and domestic pressures, said it will not go beyond its current 2.1% allocation. France, Italy, Canada, and Belgium also appear reluctant to meet such high spending levels.

No Major Talks on Russia This Time

Unlike recent NATO summits where Russia dominated discussions, this meeting intentionally avoided framing strategies against Moscow, largely to avoid clashing with Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was invited only to a pre-summit dinner and not to the main summit sessions.

Meanwhile, the US is considering pulling some troops from NATO’s eastern flank, raising fresh concerns among European nations. Italy’s defense minister even remarked that NATO is losing its relevance, though Rutte insisted that shared threats like Russia would continue to keep the alliance united.

NATO’s History: From Soviet Threats to Modern Challenges

After World War II, the Soviet Union installed communist governments across Eastern Europe and was accused of rigging elections. Western nations feared communist expansion throughout Europe, prompting the US to launch the Truman Doctrine in 1947 and the Marshall Plan to rebuild European economies.

In 1948, several Western European countries signed the Brussels Treaty. Seeking stronger security, they included the US, leading to the formation of NATO in 1949 with 12 members. Article 5 of the treaty established the principle of collective defense.

Past Splits and Internal Tensions

France partially withdrew from NATO’s military structure in 1966, feeling that US and UK influence threatened its sovereignty, but rejoined fully in 2009. Greece pulled out of NATO’s military wing in 1974 after Turkey invaded Cyprus but returned in 1980 through US mediation.

Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile system and disputes over US support for Kurdish forces in Syria also strained ties. Meanwhile, Hungary under Viktor Orbán often sides with Russia, complicating NATO decisions.

Trump’s Tough Stance on NATO

Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO, arguing that the US bears too much of the financial burden. In 2016, he even questioned defending Baltic nations against Russia if they hadn’t paid their share. As president, he threatened to pull the US out if countries didn’t spend at least 2% of GDP on defense.

Europe Still Relies Heavily on US Security

Post-World War II, Europe grew dependent on the US for military and nuclear protection, reducing its own defense spending. Today, the US maintains strong military presences and bases across Germany, Poland, and the UK, offering critical security guarantees.

If the US ever left NATO, Europe would have to ramp up spending dramatically to fill gaps in weapons, logistics, intelligence, and nuclear deterrence — areas currently covered by America.

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