Mark Rutte aims to secure a victory for Donald Trump at the upcoming NATO summit.
The alliance’s secretary-general seeks to avoid a repeat of the 2016 summit, where President Trump criticized European allies for insufficient defense spending.
Trump’s transactional approach to relationships, even within collective security frameworks, necessitates a strategic response.
At a Brussels press conference, Rutte proposed a 5% GDP defense spending target for NATO members—a figure Trump has openly advocated.
This substantial increase, more than double the current 2% target, presents a significant challenge for many European nations.
The question arises whether this initiative primarily serves to deter Russia or appease the US president.
Rutte’s compromise involves a 3.5% increase in core defense spending, with the remaining 1.5% attributed to “defense-related expenditure.”
This ambiguous term allows for flexibility, encompassing infrastructure and industry costs, according to Rutte.
The US will also adopt the new target, representing a relatively minor increase from its current 3.4% defense spending.
The true test lies not in the commitment itself, but its implementation. The leaders agreeing in The Hague will likely be long gone before their nations meet the target.
With a likely timeframe of around 10 years and no substantial sanctions for non-compliance, the agreement’s efficacy remains uncertain. Several nations still haven’t met the 2% target set over a decade ago.
Responding to questions in Brussels, Rutte—whose previous government failed to meet the 2% target—outlined a “cunning plan” to ensure accountability.
This plan involves yearly progress reports to track spending increases, preventing a sudden surge towards the 5% goal.
Rutte’s upcoming meeting with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer highlights the significant gap between the proposed NATO target and the UK’s current 2.5% (rising to an “aspiration” of 3%) defense spending plans.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that several countries, including France, Germany, Baltic and Nordic nations, Poland, Greece, and Hungary, have already committed to the 5% pledge.
While Hegseth refrained from naming non-committal countries, he expressed confidence in the UK’s eventual compliance.
“We think everyone is going to get there, we really do. It’s important they do. It’s important that the UK gets there,” Hegseth affirmed.
Additional reporting by Adam Hale and PA Media
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