The Dutch caretaker government has expressed support for NATO’s proposed 5% GDP defence spending target, citing rising security threats as justification.
The Netherlands' caretaker government has endorsed a new NATO military spending framework that calls for alliance members to allocate a total of 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) towards defence. Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced the position on Friday, aligning the country with the forthcoming NATO target ahead of a key summit this month in The Hague.
“The government supports the new NATO norm to spend 3.5% on defence and 1.5% on defence-related measures,” Brekelmans stated in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Given the increasing threats this is necessary to keep the Netherlands safe,” he added.
The new NATO target, expected to be adopted formally at the upcoming summit, consists of dedicating 3.5% of GDP to core military spending and an additional 1.5% for investments in broader security and defence-related areas. This shift reflects growing concern within the alliance over global security challenges and the need for stronger collective defence.
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The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 19th of August, covering the latest developments.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Australia on Thursday condemned Israel’s decision to close its criminal investigation into the deaths of Australian aid worker Zomi Frankcom and six World Central Kitchen colleagues killed in Gaza in April 2024.
North Korea has fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles after U.S. President Donald Trump reduced American participation in joint military exercises with South Korea in an effort to revive dialogue with Pyongyang.
Georgia’s foreign trade data for January-July 2026 shows Kyrgyzstan, China and Russia as its top three export markets, highlighting its Middle Corridor ambitions and complex economic ties with Moscow.
Kazakhstan will vote on 23 August in its first parliamentary election under the new Constitution, choosing 145 members of the new Kurultai under a fundamentally changed electoral system based entirely on party lists.
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