The Latest: Trump at NATO Wants Allies — Not US — to Hike Spending to 5%
- NATO defence ministers agreed earlier this month to increase spending to 5% of GDP, split between 3.5% on core defence and 1.5% on security investments.
- This decision builds on the 2% target set in 2014 after Russia's annexation of Crimea and heightened by Russia's full-scale 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- US President Donald Trump strongly pushed for this spending increase while insisting the US should be exempt, aiming to make allies pay their fair share.
- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the 5% target "unreasonable" and secured a side agreement to spend only 2.1%, while Slovakia reserved flexibility on compliance.
- NATO member states are unlikely to achieve the 5% defence spending target before 2035, highlighting ongoing disagreements within the alliance amid continued instability caused by Russia's war in Ukraine.
15 Articles
15 Articles
NATO Summit: Trump's Influence on European Defence Spending
NATO Summit: Trump's Influence on European Defence Spending NATO allies convened in the Netherlands, where US President Donald Trump's influence was acknowledged for driving changes in European defence spending practices. The historic summit sought to endorse a 5% GDP defence spending goal, though resistance from Spain underscores ongoing divisions within the alliance.Trump's leadership has been front and center as he highlighted the significant…
Formerly ‘pacifist’ Trump still insists on 5% GDP military spending for NATO
Approximately a decade ago, Donald Trump seemed to be a true pacifist. He was opposed to endless wars, often warned about America's unsustainable debt and pledged to lower military spending (insisting he'd build a "far stronger military for far less money"), among other things. And yet, as soon as he gained power, most of these
Donald Trump to push NATO allies to spend more on defense—But exempt US from 5% target
At the NATO summit in The Hague, President Donald Trump is likely to urge allies to adopt a bold new defense spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035—while declaring the US should be exempt. The hike comes amid ongoing threats from Russia and fears of waning US support for Ukraine.

The Latest: Trump at NATO wants allies — not US — to hike spending to 5%
President Donald Trump heads to a two-day NATO summit in Europe laden with uncertainty over Iran’s response to U.S. air strikes, the fate of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the future of U.S. troops based in NATO countries. Trump's first…
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