NATO Summit in The Hague Concludes With New Defence Spending Target and Focus on Ukraine, Middle East Tensions
The Hague, Netherlands – June 25, 2025 – The 2025 NATO Summit concluded today in The Hague, where leaders from all 32 member states gathered to address pressing global security challenges amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and sustained Russian threats.
The summit, hosted at the World Forum, was marked by robust discussions on how to reinforce the alliance’s collective defence and deterrence capabilities. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the adoption of The Hague Defence Investment Plan, which commits member states to a new defence spending target of 5% of GDP—a significant increase from previous goals. This measure is designed to accelerate industrial cooperation, boost military readiness, and ensure NATO’s ability to defend every inch of allied territory against evolving threats, including from Russia and terrorism.
The Israel-Iran conflict featured prominently in closed-door discussions, with leaders emphasizing the need for a coordinated alliance response to prevent further regional escalation. U.S. President Donald Trump, attending his first major NATO engagement since returning to office, underscored the importance of burden-sharing among allies and reaffirmed America’s commitment to NATO’s core principles. Trump’s presence, however, added an air of unpredictability to the proceedings, given his previous ambivalence toward the alliance.
The summit culminated in the issuance of the ‘The Hague Summit Declaration,’ which reaffirmed NATO’s “ironclad commitment” to Article 5 and pledged continued support for Ukraine, including direct contributions to its defence and defence industry. Leaders also identified Russia as a long-term threat to the alliance and agreed to hold the next summit in Turkey.
On the diplomatic front, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Diana Fox Carney were received by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima at the royal palace, symbolizing strengthened bilateral relations. In a separate development, Dutch authorities successfully extradited Quincy Promes from Dubai to serve a 7.5-year sentence for drug smuggling, bringing a high-profile case to a close.
The event also included the NATO Public Forum, which brought together experts, journalists, and youth to discuss the alliance’s future and foster public understanding of NATO’s mission. The summit demonstrated NATO’s resolve to adapt to a rapidly changing security landscape and maintain unity in the face of complex global challenges.