U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed a major win after all 32 NATO members backed his push to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP.
“This is a huge win for the United States — we’ve been carrying far more than our share,” Trump told reporters after the summit. “It’s a victory for everyone, and now things will be more balanced.”
Trump also reiterated what he called his “ironclad commitment” to NATO’s Article Five—the clause that treats an attack on one member as an attack on all—even though he had previously made comments casting doubt on it. He sidestepped questions about the strength of the U.S. commitment.
Under the final agreement, NATO members pledged to spend 3.5% of GDP on core military capabilities by 2035, with an additional 1.5% going toward broader security, such as critical infrastructure.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said the agreement marks the end of Europe’s “long holiday from history” and urged European countries to take more responsibility for their own defense “in these difficult times.”
