Trump hails 'historic NATO deal, allies agree to hike defense funds
5 Min Read
At the NATO summit in The Hague, the US President claims a major foreign policy win as all 32 member states agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.
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US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte attend a plenary session at the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25, 2025 (AP)
US President Donald Trump took a victory lap at the NATO summit in The Hague on Wednesday, as allies agreed to significantly increase defense spending, marking a major foreign policy win for the former president.
Trump, eager to claim credit, hailed the agreement by all 32 NATO member states to work toward spending five percent of GDP on defense, calling it “a great victory for everybody.”
In a show of unity aimed at deterring Russia, Trump joined other leaders in reaffirming NATO’s core commitment to collective defense under Article Five, declaring that an attack on one member is an attack on all. The final summit declaration described this promise as "ironclad".
Behind closed doors, diplomats said Trump emphasized the US leadership role and urged allies to use their increased budgets to buy American-made weapons.
The deal represents a compromise: while allowing Trump to celebrate a win, it offers flexibility to European nations facing financial constraints. Under the agreement, members will aim to reach 3.5% of GDP in direct defense spending by 2035, with an additional 1.5% directed toward broader security areas like critical infrastructure.
NATO leaders lined up to describe the agreement as "historic", Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever remarked that Europe’s “long break from history” was over and that the continent must now take ownership of its defense in a time of heightened geopolitical tension.
Tensions, reassurances
The summit was carefully choreographed to keep Trump engaged, from reducing the length of formal sessions to offering him accommodations at the royal palace. Still, Trump stirred uncertainty when he told reporters that the definition of NATO’s mutual defense clause “depends on your definition,” raising eyebrows among allies.
However, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte reassured reporters that Trump remained “totally committed” to Article Five, a pledge that was clearly reaffirmed in the summit’s final statement.
The war in Ukraine loomed large over the summit. While the final communique used more cautious language than in past years, it identified Moscow as a "long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security" and included provisions for supporting Ukraine using funds from the new defense commitments.
Ukraine on the sidelines
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine had a more subdued role at this summit compared to previous ones, likely a diplomatic move to avoid renewed tensions with Trump, who had a high-profile shouting match with Zelensky in the Oval Office during his presidency.
Still, Trump signaled openness to dialogue, calling Zelensky a “nice guy” and stating that discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin were ongoing. “I think progress is being made,” Trump claimed.
While NATO reiterated its support for Ukraine, it avoided any direct reference to Kiev’s bid for membership, something Trump has opposed. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, an ally of the Kremlin, bluntly declared, "NATO has no business in Ukraine. My job is to keep it as it is.”
Macron: ‘Trade wars among allies make no sense’
French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday called for an immediate resolution to the ongoing tariff dispute between the European Union and the United States, warning that internal economic conflicts undermine NATO unity.
"We can't say to each other, among allies, we need to spend more... and wage trade war against one another, it makes no sense," Macron told reporters during the NATO summit in The Hague. "We need to reach a deal now."
Trump praised the summit as a major win, applauding NATO leaders for backing his push to increase defense spending.
"I think the summit was fantastic. It was a big success," Trump told Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, calling the gathering “tremendous".
Dutch far-right leader Wilders touts 'excellent' meeting with Trump
Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders revealed Wednesday that he had a private meeting with President Trump on the sidelines of the summit, describing the exchange as “excellent".
"Thank you so much Mr President... for the excellent meeting we just had and our discussion about the need for tougher immigration laws," Wilders posted on X.
The meeting is likely to stir controversy in the Netherlands. Although Wilders leads the largest party in parliament, he holds no official government position. He recently triggered political upheaval by pulling his PVV Freedom Party out of the ruling coalition, causing its collapse just weeks before the NATO summit and prompting snap elections scheduled for October 29.
Wilders has long expressed admiration for Trump, who, in turn, has embraced alliances with far-right figures across Europe.
