NATO summit kicks off in The Hague

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

 

Leaders from NATO’s 32 member states have convened in The Hague, Netherlands, for a two-day summit being hailed as “historic”—and potentially one of the costliest ever at over €183 million. The UK Times reports that the gathering aims to approve sweeping plans to increase defense budgets, strengthen military posture, and allow direct dialogue between President Trump and NATO officials on the delicate Israel‑Iran conflict.

Under pressure from President Trump, NATO allies are preparing to endorse a 5% GDP defense spending target, comprising 3.5% for core military outlays and 1.5% toward infrastructure, cyber-defense, and resilience. Secretary‐General Mark Rutte praised this shift as a response to evolving threats, including Russia’s war in Ukraine and broader global volatility. According to Deutsche Welle, despite resistance from Spain and Slovakia, citing domestic constraints, 22 of 32 members already meet the prior 2% target. 

 

 

 

President Trump’s early appearance at NATO since returning to office has centered the summit on beefed-up defense funding and the unfolding Middle East tensions following U.S strikes in Iran. The Washington Post reports that in-flight comments hinted he may reassess U.S. obligations under Article 5, noting “it depends on [the] definition.” Yet internally, Rutte described Article 5 as untouchable, affirming that “NATO has no opt‑out.”

 

 

Meanwhile, the summit agenda has widened beyond Ukraine to include the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Trump’s role in both orchestrating strikes on Iranian facilities and brokering the ceasefire is expected to dominate discussions. Protesters in The Hague have voiced opposition to deeper military involvement.

This is as Ukraine’s future remains a key but secondary topic. President Zelenskyy, invited for an opening dinner, is notably missing from closed-door sessions—a signal of shifting U.S. posture under Trump.  Rutte pointed out the alliance’s ability to tackle multiple crises simultaneously. 

 

 

This marks the first NATO summit hosted by the Netherlands—held at The Hague’s World Forum—with unprecedented security: 27,000 police and 10,000 military personnel deployed. The summit’s hefty price tag—€183 million for its briefing—underlines its diplomatic weight.