"Verging on Accord" at NATO: Pondering a 5% GDP for Defense Spending
NATO edges closer to determining defense spending at 5% of GDP level
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is vibing a near agreement amongst NATO nations concerning a considerable upgrade in their defense budget, aiming for 5% of their GDP. Recently at a NATO defense ministers' powwow in Brussels, Hegseth announced that NATO is "very close" to agreeing on the U.S.-proposed target.
However, he didn't hide the fact that "a select few" countries are tripping over the line still, without revealing the culprits. "We'll coax them over," he declared, hinting towards the NATO summit slated for late June in The Hague.
Trump in the past had issued a stern warning to NATO allies, stating that they would risk losing U.S. support if they fail to meet his proposed defense spending goals, standing firm at 5% of GDP.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte put forth a proposal suggesting that NATO countries should swipe at least 3.5% of their GDP on defense and 1.5% on defense infrastructure by 2032. Germany and France have already sealed the deal on this proposal, while countries like Spain or Italy are pegged as foes to such hefty goals.
As for the NATO Summit in The Hague, mark your calendars for June 24-25, 2025, at the World Forum. But before the grand event, be prepared for a counter-summit hosted by the Coalition for Peace and Justice, happening on June 21-22, stacked with protests against NATO.
Keep tabs on defense spending among NATO countries for the latest insights.
[1] planning.peace-council.eu/countersummit
[2] www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_69042.htm
- In the ongoing discussions at NATO, the common foreign and security policy is being reevaluated alongside defense budgets, with a focus on meeting the proposed 5% GDP for defense spending as advocated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- The upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague will likely see debates on finance and business matters relating to these policy adjustments, given the importance of defense infrastructure investments to realizing the 5% GDP defense spending target.
