NATO Summit in The Hague Grapples with Unity and Ukraine

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NATO Summit in The Hague Grapples with Unity and Ukraine/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ NATO heads converged in The Hague to endorse a new 5% GDP defense spending target, amid resistance from Spain and Slovakia. The summit also addresses fallout from the Israel‑Iran ceasefire and continued support for Ukraine. Secretary‑General Rutte and Zelenskyy stress that NATO must handle both Middle Eastern crises and Russia’s aggression simultaneously.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, center right, addresses the audience at the NATO public forum on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

NATO Summit in The Hague Tests Alliance Unity: Quick Looks

Historic pledge: Allies aim for 5% of GDP defense spending—3.5% on core defense, 1.5% on infrastructure/cyber
Spain opts out: Pedro Sánchez labels the target “unreasonable” and secures flexibility
Trump factor: U.S. pushes hard; Rutte brokers compromise amid tension
Ukraine focus: Zelenskyy attends, but Ukraine’s NATO membership remains sidelined
Dual challenges: NATO to manage both Russia’s war on Ukraine and Middle East volatility
Public dissent: Protests erupt amid the Hague as Europe debates militarization

Netherland’s Prime Minister Dick Schoof, right, speaks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting at the Catshuis on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Tuesday, June 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

NATO Summit in The Hague Grapples with Unity and Ukraine

Deep Look

The Hague, Netherlands — June 24, 2025

NATO’s two-day summit began with lofty ambitions as leaders convened in The Hague to cement a bold new defense-spending pledge. With security tensions intensifying across Europe and the Middle East, the summit’s outcome could redefine alliance cohesion—or fracture it.

5% Defense Spending Goal Sparks Controversy

NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte, emphasizing the elevated threat from Russia, confirmed alliance-wide agreement on a target of 5% GDP spending: 3.5% for core military needs, plus 1.5% for infrastructure and cybersecurity readiness.

However, Spain’s Pedro Sánchez rejected this stance, calling it “unreasonable” and securing flexibility that allows Spain to rise only to approximately 2.1%. Slovakia also reserved the right to meet the 2035 deadline in its own way.

‘Trump Effect’ on NATO

U.S. President Trump has driven the push for the higher spending target. Rutte’s compromise drew 22 other members onboard—even as Trump himself balked at applying the target to the U.S. Spain’s opt‑out sparked fresh tensions, but Rutte defended the deal as preserving unity. Still, this intense spotlight on defense burdens risks reopening familiar fissures among allies.

Ukraine Takes Center Stage

Amid the budget dispute, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the summit’s periphery, meeting EU and NATO officials. While no formal pledge on NATO membership was made, Rutte reasserted Ukraine’s “irreversible path” into the Euro‑Atlantic space, and allies reaffirmed support. Dutch Prime Minister Schoof announced a package including radar systems and drone production for Kyiv.

Balancing Multiple Threats

Rutte stressed NATO’s capacity to address several crises. “If we cannot handle the Middle East and Ukraine at the same time, we should not be in military business at all,” he warned . NATO leaders also discussed the implications of U.S. strikes in Iran and Israel’s ceasefire—events that could distract from focus on Russia’s war.