NATO member states have agreed to raise their defence spending target to 5% of GDP, marking a sharp increase from the previous 2% goal.
The decision was announced on the final day of the NATO summit in The Hague on Wednesday, with U.S. President Donald Trump calling it a “monumental victory.”
The commitment is aimed at strengthening the alliance’s collective defence in response to growing global threats. Trump welcomed the agreement, while also criticizing Spain for saying it would not meet the new target until 2035.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reassured allies that the U.S. remains “totally committed” to the alliance and its Article 5 mutual defence clause.
Ukraine and Russia still on agenda
While Ukraine received less focus than in previous summits, NATO allies reiterated their “enduring support” for the country. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he had urged Trump to expand sanctions on Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who met Trump on the sidelines, said they discussed the potential co-production of drones, as well as the purchase of U.S. air defense systems to protect Ukrainian infrastructure and civilians.
Zelenskyy also praised recent U.S. strikes on Iranian military sites, claiming they had weakened Iran’s drone production capacity — drones which have been used in Russian attacks on Ukraine.
In a social media post, Zelenskyy said he provided Trump with updated battlefield information and encouraged European allies to support the purchase of U.S. weapons.
Türkiye confirmed it will host the next NATO summit in 2026. The defense spending pledge is expected to reshape future alliance planning, procurement, and military readiness. The move also signals a stronger push for burden-sharing among NATO members.
The summit closed with a renewed emphasis on unity and burden-sharing as global tensions rise, particularly with Russia’s continued war in Ukraine, and instability in the Middle East. Secretary-General Mark Rutte underlined that the alliance remains firmly committed to Article 5 and collective defense.
As NATO prepares to mark its 76th year in 2026, the summit set the tone for a more assertive and better-resourced alliance amid growing global uncertainty.
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A Japanese space company has blamed a malfunctioning laser range finder for the crash of its moon lander earlier this month, marking the second failed lunar landing attempt for ispace in just over two years.
U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial be cancelled, calling the case a “witch hunt” and suggesting Netanyahu should be pardoned.
The fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel held for a second day on Wednesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that American and Iranian officials are expected to engage in talks next week—marking a possible diplomatic shift after nearly two weeks of regional warfare.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called on the European Union to strengthen trust and cooperation with China, saying the two sides should focus on mutual success rather than rivalry.
Kazakhstan's e-commerce sector has soared to 3.2 trillion tenge (around 6.2 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, marking a sevenfold increase since 2020, according to Deputy Prime Minister Serik Jumanğarin.
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The World Bank has approved over $1 billion in new funding to support rebuilding efforts and infrastructure development in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial be cancelled, calling the case a “witch hunt” and suggesting Netanyahu should be pardoned.
The fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel held for a second day on Wednesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that American and Iranian officials are expected to engage in talks next week—marking a possible diplomatic shift after nearly two weeks of regional warfare.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called on the European Union to strengthen trust and cooperation with China, saying the two sides should focus on mutual success rather than rivalry.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Iran’s cooperation with the agency is not optional but a legal requirement.
A Japanese space company has blamed a malfunctioning laser range finder for the crash of its moon lander earlier this month, marking the second failed lunar landing attempt for ispace in just over two years.
U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption trial be cancelled, calling the case a “witch hunt” and suggesting Netanyahu should be pardoned.
The fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel held for a second day on Wednesday, as U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that American and Iranian officials are expected to engage in talks next week—marking a possible diplomatic shift after nearly two weeks of regional warfare.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday called on the European Union to strengthen trust and cooperation with China, saying the two sides should focus on mutual success rather than rivalry.
Kazakhstan's e-commerce sector has soared to 3.2 trillion tenge (around 6.2 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, marking a sevenfold increase since 2020, according to Deputy Prime Minister Serik Jumanğarin.
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