• NATO pledges to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, significantly higher than the previous 2% target.
• The increase aims to address threats from Russia and strengthen collective security among member states.
• Countries like Spain and Belgium express reservations about meeting the new spending targets.
• The spending plan has two components: 3.5% for core defense and 1.5% for broader security-related expenses.
• US President Trump celebrates the agreement as a significant victory for the United States.

NATO leaders, during a summit in The Hague, have agreed to significantly increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, pressured by US President Donald Trump. This decision reflects heightened concerns over security threats, particularly from Russia, and aims to enhance the alliance's military capabilities, which were previously set at a 2% target agreed upon in 2014, according to Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.

The commitment involves allocating at least 3.5% of GDP annually for core defense needs and an additional 1.5% for other security-related areas such as infrastructure and cybersecurity. This compromise was designed to allow nations facing economic constraints to meet the commitment without overwhelming fiscal strain, as noted by TRT Global and Le Monde.

Despite the overall agreement, countries like Spain and Belgium have publicly stated their inability to meet the 5% target, citing economic challenges. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez emphasized that Spain could fulfill NATO's commitments with just a 2% investment, which has raised concerns among other allies about commitment consistency, according to reports from The Jakarta Post and Dawn.

During the summit, Trump framed the agreement as a personal victory and signaled that European allies needed to shoulder more defense costs to alleviate American military spending burdens. He reiterated the importance of NATO's collective defense commitment, stating, "an attack on one is an attack on all," despite expressing doubts about the reliability of this agreement prior to the meeting, according to The Hill and South China Morning Post.

The 5% spending goal will be reviewed in 2029 to assess each nation's progress towards meeting the target. This review aligns with NATO's strategic evaluations in light of ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly from Russia, indicating a proactive stance for future security planning, as highlighted by Dawn and Al Jazeera.