“United in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to the Euro-Atlantic area and the persistent threat of terrorism, Allies pledge to invest 5% of GDP per year in defense requirements as well as in defence and security-related expenditure, by 2035, to ensure our individual and collective obligations”. This is what we read in the final declaration of the NATO summit that took place today in The Hague.
The heads of state and government of the 32 NATO members specify that they agree that "the 5% commitment will include two essential categories of defense investments". The allies will allocate at least 3,5% of GDP per year, based on the agreed definition of NATO defense spending by 2035, to meet the need for basic defence resources and to achieve capability objectives (of which only a few titles are known). Countries will submit annual plans indicating a credible and progressive path to achieve this objective and will contribute up to1,5% of national GDP per year to protect critical infrastructure, defend networks, ensure civil preparedness and resilience, unleash innovation, and strengthen our defense industrial base.
“The trajectory and balance of spending under this plan will be reviewed in 2029, in light of the strategic context and updated capability objectives.”
Trump: “Monumental agreement, thanks to me”
“It was a productive summit, the journey was long but it was worth it.” This is how Donald Trump's press conference began, during which the US president defined the agreement to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP as “a monumental victory for the US”. “I did it,” he said. “The money will have to be spent seriously on military hardware and not on bureaucracy” to act as a deterrent to wars like Russia’s in Ukraine, the White House chief added.
Trump on Zelensky: “He’s fighting a brave battle” I didn’t say anything about a ceasefire
On the sidelines of the summit, after having reiterated – despite many doubts – that the Iranian nuclear program has been destroyed, the US president also spoke about Ukraine, expressing the hope a short-term solution. “We hope that we can solve the Ukrainian issue,” he said. “Last week 700 people died. This should not have happened.” In The Hague, the White House chief said also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but “we have not discussed a ceasefire,” he told a news conference, adding that “Zelensky has been kind. In fact, in difficult times, sometimes he could not have been kinder. I think he would like to see an end to all this. I think it’s a very good time to end it. I will talk to Vladimir Putin to see if we can figure it out,” the US president continued, calling the Ukrainians “brave people.” Trump also admitted that the promise to solve the war in Ukraine in 24 hours was ironic. “Of course it was ironic,” he said in response to a reporter.
Ukraine “wants anti-missile missiles, the Patriots, which are very effective. We'll see if we can find some.“because “we need them too” and they are being supplied “to Israel,” Trump added.
The Ukrainian president, for his part, called the conversation with Trump “long and meaningful.” We discussed all the really important issues. I thank Mr. President, I thank the United States. We talked about how to achieve a ceasefire and real peace. We talked about how to protect our people. We appreciate the attention and willingness to help bring peace closer,” Zelensky said on Telegram, adding that there would be “details later.”
In this context, “The Allies” reaffirmed “their sovereign commitment to provide support for Ukraine“, but from the document, as expected, any mention of a f has been excludedUkraine's future entry into the Alliance, unlike what happened in Washington last year, where the principle of the “irreversible path” was established. There are not even references to financial commitments for Ukraine – last year there were 40 billion a year – which, in fact, now becomes “a sovereign commitment”. The allies declare themselves “united in the face of profound security threats and challenges, in particular the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security and the persistent threat of terrorism”, the final declaration reads. As anticipated, the language does not provide for a clear definition of the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a “war of aggression”.
Spain: “2,1% is enough”. Trump: “They will pay the duties twice”
Spain was the only country to oppose increasing defense spending to 5 percent.”Spending at 2,1% is sufficient” said the prime minister Pedro Sanchez after the NATO summit. And returning to the topic of the share to be allocated to military spending: "We were absolutely rigorous in establishing to commit 2,1%. That's how security and welfare win."
"What Spain did is terrible, is the only country that refuses to pay. When will we negotiate a tariff agreement with Spain we'll make her pay double” Trump said at a press conference. It’s a shame that any trade agreement must be negotiated with the European Commission and not with the government in Madrid.
Trump's latest attack on Powell
Speaking to reporters, Trump insulted the Fed chairman for the umpteenth time Jerome Powell, calling him “a stupid person, a very political person”. In the US “there is no inflation, we have an economy in extraordinary shape, great” and the Fed’s choice “makes us spend 900 billion dollars (to service the debt) just because interest rates are not reduced”, he added.
Meloni: “Necessary expenses to strengthen our Defense”
NATO's was "an important summit for the commitments that were undertaken, meaningful and sustainable commitments”, said Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in The Hague, explaining that those approved are “necessary expenses to strengthen our defense and security.”We will not take away even one euro from the government's priorities and Italian citizens, we do not believe in using the “safeguard clause” of the Stability Pact in 2026 for defense. “The alliance is compact, it wants to strengthen. There is full support for Ukraine from everyone,” he added, also reporting that he had told Trump and other leaders that “the same determination” used on the war between Israel and Iran “should also be used for two other ceasefires, for Ukraine and for Gaza,” he added.
The words of other leaders
The absence of a condemnation of Russia in today's final document of the NATO summit does not mean that the Alliance's position of support for Ukraine "has changed", the British Prime Minister said. Keir Starmer in his post-summit press conference, claiming that he had detected in his contacts with other leaders “a real determination” to renew pressure on Vladimir Putin for an “unconditional ceasefire.” “President Zelensky has indicated his will for many weeks” in this regard, “now it is time for Putin, who beats around the bush, to come to the negotiating table.”
“What took place in The Hague is “a historic summit for NATO, where we all together decided to raise the quota allocated to defense to 5% in the coming years. And this is a sign of strength in the face of all our possible adversaries. And a sign of determination", said the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, speaking to the press on the sidelines of the summit. “We have to take Russian revisionism seriously. And we have to be able to defend ourselves so we don’t have to defend ourselves,” he added.
