NATO Allies Commit to Significant Defense Spending Increase
At the conclusion of the NATO summit in The Hague, the alliance’s Secretary General, Mark Rutte, hailed the decision to significantly increase defense spending as a crucial step in response to the threats to their security.
The agreement, known as the Den Haag Investment Plan, commits NATO member states to investing at least 5% of their GDP in defense, a significant commitment to the alliance’s security. Of this, at least 3.5% will be dedicated to core defense requirements, including the financing of the military, air defense and drone capabilities. The remaining 1.5% will be invested in measures that indirectly strengthen security, such as the necessary infrastructure for the deployment of tanks.
Although the situation in Ukraine did not take center stage at the summit, as it had in the past, Rutte reaffirmed the alliance’s support for the country. “Our goal is to enable Ukraine to continue fighting to achieve a lasting peace” he said, “We stand with Ukraine.” The allies also remain committed to Ukraine’s irreversible path to NATO membership.