Its Member States NATO agreed to spend 5% of GDP Their defense, the Secretary General of the Alliance Mark Rutte said Monday (23.6.2025), stressing that the allies would invest in thousands of more battle tanks and armored vehicles, stating that Russia remains the most important and immediate threat.
“The defensive investment plan that the Allies will agree on in The Hague introduces a new 5% of the 5% of GDP invested in defense. It is a forward leap that is ambitious, historical and fundamental to securing our future, “he said in a press conference in The Hague today before the two -day NATO summit in the Dutch city.
“Let me give you some examples of what we will invest. A five -fold increase in air defense potential, because we see Russia’s deadly terror from the skies over Ukraine every day and we must be able to defend ourselves by such attacks, “he added.
At the same time, he stressed that the support of the NATO allies in Ukraine is steadfast and persistent, noting that the allies will provide more than 35 billion euros in military aid for Ukraine this year.
Referring to historical developments in the Middle East, Rutte said that Iran should not develop nuclear weapons. “The allies have repeatedly encouraged Iran to meet its obligations under the treaty of non -dissemination of nuclear weapons,” he said.
US President Donald Trump will push NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP when he goes to the North Atlantic Alliance Summit tomorrow Tuesday (23.6.2025)White House spokesman Caroline Levit said today.
“One of the main topics of discussion will be the 5% threshold that our allies in NATO have to achieve. The president invites our allies to NATO to make more for some time. He persuaded them to intensify their efforts and make more during his first term and you will hear the president talk about this on this forthcoming historical trip to Europe, “Levit said in an interview with Fox News.