World leaders convened in the Netherlands on Tuesday for a pivotal two-day NATO summit that could see member states agree to a historic rise in defence spending—or expose sharp divisions within the 32-member alliance.
The proposed increase, a sharp jump from the current 2% guideline, is intended to ensure NATO’s readiness to counter external threats, particularly in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now entering its fourth year.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged the importance of the spending debate but stressed that Ukraine remains at the heart of the alliance’s agenda. “The war in Ukraine continues to shape the security landscape of Europe and demands our unwavering support,” Rutte said ahead of closed-door meetings.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in The Hague to attend bilateral talks and address the Dutch parliament, although he is not participating in the official leaders’ session focused on the spending target. Zelenskyy is expected to lobby for continued military and economic support.
The summit comes one year after the Washington gathering, where NATO reaffirmed its long-term commitment to Ukraine and its eventual membership. However, divisions persist over timelines and terms for enlargement, as well as over how much each member should contribute financially.
In a joint op-ed published in the Financial Times on the eve of the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed firm support for US-led peace efforts, underlining their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“For as long as the current trajectory lasts, Russia will find in France and Germany an unshakeable determination. What is at stake will determine European stability for the decades to come,” they wrote.
The summit will continue Wednesday, with final decisions expected on the defence spending pledge and an updated strategy on NATO’s eastern flank.
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