NATO allies vow to boost defence budgets under Trump pressure as Russian threat looms

Faced with what they called the most persistent threat to Euro-Atlantic security, NATO leaders on Wednesday agreed to a dramatic hike in defence spending, committing to invest 5% of GDP annually on military and security-related needs by 2035.

The move, aimed squarely at countering Russian aggression, reflects growing alarm within the alliance over Moscow’s long-term strategic ambitions and continued war in Ukraine.

Leaders also reaffirmed an “ironclad” commitment to collective defence and formally designated Russia as a “long-term threat,” AFP reported.


"Allies commit to invest five percent of GDP annually on core defence requirements as well as defence- and security-related spending by 2035," the 32 NATO members said in a joint summit statement.

Issued from The Hague, the declaration underscored NATO’s unity “in the face of profound security threats and challenges,” with Russia described as the most urgent and enduring danger to stability across Europe and beyond.

NATO also reiterated its “enduring sovereign commitments” to Ukraine, stating that Kyiv’s security was integral to that of the broader alliance.

The 5% defence spending target, more than double the existing 2% goal set in 2014, marks a major strategic shift as NATO prepares for what officials have called a "decisive decade" of heightened confrontation with authoritarian regimes.

The pledge is also seen as a response to growing pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised allies for not shouldering their fair share of the defence burden.