Nato leaders along with US President Donald Trump, are set to meet in The Hague on Tuesday for a two-day summit focused on a key point of contention within the alliance - a proposed defense spending target of 5% of GDP.
In 2014, Nato members pledged to move toward spending at least 2% of their GDP on defense. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, this figure became a minimum requirement. In 2024, 22 members met the 2% goal, up from three in 2014.
Donald Trump proposed a 5% figure and has criticized Spain and Canada for not contributing more to Nato.
“Nato is going to have to deal with Spain. Spain’s been a very low payer,” Trump said. He also referred to Canada as “a low payer.” Nato figures show that Spain spent less than 2% of its GDP on defense in 2024, while Canada spent 1.45%.
In the Hague summit, leaders are expected to consider increasing the spending target to 3.5% of GDP, plus an additional 1.5% for infrastructure and societal resilience.
Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte had indicated optimism that European allies and Canada would agree to match US levels of investment. However, Spain publicly rejected the proposal, calling it “unreasonable.”
Also read | The success of a key Nato summit is in doubt after Spain rejects a big hike in defence spending
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been invited to the summit, but his participation in the working session is uncertain.
Nato was established in 1949 with 12 founding members. It now has 32, with Sweden joining in 2024. The alliance’s core commitment is Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
The summit will bring together the heads of state and government from the alliance’s 32 member countries over an informal dinner scheduled for Tuesday evening and a single working session on Wednesday morning.
In 2014, Nato members pledged to move toward spending at least 2% of their GDP on defense. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, this figure became a minimum requirement. In 2024, 22 members met the 2% goal, up from three in 2014.
Donald Trump proposed a 5% figure and has criticized Spain and Canada for not contributing more to Nato.
“Nato is going to have to deal with Spain. Spain’s been a very low payer,” Trump said. He also referred to Canada as “a low payer.” Nato figures show that Spain spent less than 2% of its GDP on defense in 2024, while Canada spent 1.45%.
In the Hague summit, leaders are expected to consider increasing the spending target to 3.5% of GDP, plus an additional 1.5% for infrastructure and societal resilience.
Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte had indicated optimism that European allies and Canada would agree to match US levels of investment. However, Spain publicly rejected the proposal, calling it “unreasonable.”
Also read | The success of a key Nato summit is in doubt after Spain rejects a big hike in defence spending
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been invited to the summit, but his participation in the working session is uncertain.
Nato was established in 1949 with 12 founding members. It now has 32, with Sweden joining in 2024. The alliance’s core commitment is Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
The summit will bring together the heads of state and government from the alliance’s 32 member countries over an informal dinner scheduled for Tuesday evening and a single working session on Wednesday morning.
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