NATO to increase military spending to 5% of GDP: key decision of The Hague summit
At the summit in The Hague, NATO leaders agreed to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. This is the Alliance’s most ambitious plan since the end of the Cold War — a response to threats from Russia and terrorism.
Photo: Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, CC BY-SA 4.0
On June 25, a NATO summit was held in The Hague, where heads of state adopted a landmark declaration: member countries of the Alliance commit to increasing collective defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.
This refers not only to military funding, but also to protecting critical infrastructure, digital networks, and developing the defense industry.
Out of this amount, at least 3.5% will go to core military needs and achieving NATO's target indicators, and up to 1.5% — to strengthening civil resilience and technologies.
Each member of the Alliance must present a step-by-step budget growth plan as early as next year. The first review of commitments is scheduled for 2029.
The declaration pays special attention to Russia — calling it a "long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security." Support for Ukraine is also confirmed, including calculating direct aid as part of the total defense spending.
The next NATO summit will take place in Turkey in 2026, followed by one in Albania.
It was previously reported that in 2025 a new NATO forward land forces unit will begin operations in Lapland, created to strengthen the Alliance's presence near Russia's borders. The initiative involves Finland, Sweden, Denmark, France, Iceland, Norway, and the United Kingdom.