NATO leaders gathered in The Hague on 26 June 2025 for a summit described as “historic” by its participants. The summit focused primarily on strengthening the Alliance's collective defence through a boost of its defence spending. 

A key outcome was the adoption of a new defence investment plan, described by Secretary General Mark Rutte as “decisive when it comes to ensuring effective deterrence and defence”. Under the plan, NATO members committed to investing 5% of their GDP annually on defence and security-related spending by 2035. This marks a significant increase from the previous 2% target. The 5% will include at least 3.5% of GDP allocated to core defence requirements, such as funding military forces and equipment, and up to 1.5% dedicated to broader security-related investments, including protecting critical infrastructure, defending networks, enhancing civil preparedness and resilience, and strengthening the defence industrial base.

Member states will submit annual plans for how they will meet the goal, with a first comprehensive review taking place in 2029. The Hague Summit Declaration, signed by all 32 NATO member countries, reaffirmed the Alliance’s "ironclad commitment to collective defence", as enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

Leaders identified the "long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security" and the "persistent threat of terrorism" as key challenges facing the Alliance. While the final declaration did not include a direct condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it did acknowledge Russia as a continuing security threat.

The summit also reaffirmed NATO's commitment to supporting Ukraine. Leaders stressed that Ukraine’s security contributes to the security of the Alliance, and defence spending calculations will include direct contributions towards Ukraine’s defence and its defence industry. According to Rutte, more than €35 billion in support for Ukraine has been pledged this year, with additional contributions expected. “We stand by Ukraine in its pursuit of peace and will support it on its irreversible path to NATO membership.”, he shared. 

Another key focus of the summit was expanding transatlantic defence industrial cooperation. Leaders committed to removing defence trade barriers among Allies and leveraging partnerships with the European Union, Ukraine, and Indo-Pacific countries to strengthen defence production and innovation. 

The decision to raise defence spending follows after months of pressure from US President Donald Trump, who welcomed the outcome as a “big win for Europe” and a “great victory for Western civilisation.” While Trump had previously raised questions about the US commitment to Article 5, he reaffirmed American support for NATO’s collective defence principle after the summit.

Not all Allies were fully supportive of the 5% target. Spain, Belgium, and Slovakia voiced concerns about the feasibility of the spending increase. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, for example, noted that Spain was already making an “enormous effort” to reach 2.1%. Despite initial objections, all member states ultimately endorsed the final declaration. Leaders described the summit as a decisive step towards building a stronger and fairer NATO.

The next NATO summits will be held in Türkiye in 2026 and in Albania thereafter.