NATO member states have reached a consensus on a landmark defence spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035, paving the way for a formal announcement at the alliance’s upcoming summit in The Hague.
NATO diplomats confirmed on Sunday that all 32 member nations have approved a joint statement establishing a new goal for defence and security-related expenditure. The agreement follows extensive negotiations, with Spain previously voicing concerns over the scale of the proposed increase. However, a consensus was ultimately reached ahead of the high-level summit set to begin on Wednesday.
The statement, which remains unofficial until it is endorsed by NATO leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, represents a significant shift in the alliance’s defence posture. Currently, NATO’s formal target is set at 2% of GDP, a benchmark many members have struggled to meet. The proposed 5% goal signals a robust response to growing global security threats and aims to bolster the alliance’s collective deterrence capabilities.
According to diplomatic sources, the new target is not expected to be immediately binding but will serve as a guiding objective for long-term defence planning. The text reportedly calls for a gradual and "sustainable path" toward the 2035 goal, with flexibility for national economic conditions.
The decision comes amid heightened tensions in Europe and renewed pressure from the United States for greater burden-sharing within the alliance. President Trump has repeatedly urged NATO allies to step up their defence commitments, a stance he is expected to reiterate during his address in The Hague.
The summit is also likely to feature discussions on NATO’s strategic posture, the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe, cybersecurity coordination, and emerging threats in the Indo-Pacific region.
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