The US president described the decision, taken at a summit in The Hague, as a “big win for Europe and… Western civilisation”.
In a joint statement, members said they were united against “profound” security challenges, singling out the “long-term threat posed by Russia” and terrorism.
Nato leaders reaffirmed their “ironclad commitment” to the principle that an attack on one Nato member would lead to a response from the full alliance.
However, the statement did not include a condemnation of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as it had a year ago.ConflictsEurope
NATO members step up spending, but doubts about US remain
Anchal Vohra The Hague
10 hours ago10 hours ago
Most NATO allies promised to ramp up defense spending and reaffirmed their “ironclad” commitment to mutual defense. But there are lingering concerns over the scale and scope of US engagement.
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Niederlande 2025 | NATO-Gipfel in Den Haag | Gruppenbild
NATO’s annual summit took place in The Hague this weekImage: Kay Nietfeld/dpa/picture alliance
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From the perspective of European NATO allies, it all went to plan: A short, one-page and five-point declaration, a nice group photo and even dinner with the Dutch king and queen. At the NATO summit at The Hague, US President Donald Trump was also in good spirits.
When he addressed the press, Trump claimed credit for ending the war in Iran and for getting NATO allies to increase their defense spending to 5% of their national GDPs by 2035.
He praised European members of the alliance for “the love and passion they showed for their countries,” but also said they needed the US. He hailed the new pledge as a “big win for Europe and for western civilization.”
