In The Hague, Netherlands, this week, NATO leaders met while the world faced major security risks. They worked on a bold new plan to spend 5% of their economies on defense. At the same time, they had to deal with questions about what the U.S. might do and the ongoing war in Ukraine.
What the Summit Is and Why It Matters
All 32 member countries' heads of state and government participate in this summit, and invited partners join them along with EU leaders.
Summits are officially NATO's top-level gathering as its authorized high-level meeting, and they're the primary venues for determining strategic direction, agreeing on defense commitments, and debating security threats, including cyber threats, to crisis management.
The 2025 NATO Summit took place on June 24–25, 2025. The venue is the World Forum conference centre in The Hague, Netherlands, for the first NATO summit hosted by the Netherlands.
According to NATO's Timetable:
June 24 is a sequence of bilateral and official summits, from a ceremony of signing of the Defence Industry Forum to June 25, which involves a leaders' breakfast, then the North Atlantic Council meeting; the official session where heads of state assemble to make decisions.
NATO summits are often referred to as quadrennial "heads-of-state" meetings, though their frequency has varied significantly. They are traced back to the 1949 Washington Treaty and commenced in 1957 (Paris) and continuing since then up to the 2024 Washington and 2023 Vilnius summits. The 2025 Hague Summit is the 34th recorded summit, being hosted by Dutch Prime Minister Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria as domestic host leader.
/*Unified But Under Pressure: The 5% GDP Target*/
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized an ambitious new goal: NATO allies will raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, including 3.5% core military expenditure and 1.5% related security spending such as infrastructure. Germany, the UK, and others committed on timelines for increasing their defense spending (e.g., Germany aiming for 2% by 2029, the UK for 2.5% by 2030 and 3% by 2035) although Spain, Belgium, and Slovakia were not keen on the new 5% target.
/*Trump, Article 5 and U.S. Ambiguity*/
Prior to the summit, President Trump generated headlines by questioning U.S. commitment to the mutual‑defense Article 5; which means "An attack against one NATO member is considered an attack against all". Rutte and U.S. diplomat Matthew Whittaker reaffirmed U.S. commitment, with President Trump also providing reassurances, however, dispelling rumors of U.S. withdrawal.
/*Ukraine's Role Reconfigured*/
Before the summit, President Zelenskiy hosted a dinner, but he didn't attend the main meetings with top leaders. He did, however, have important one-on-one meetings with officials. Many saw his limited attendance as a way to avoid conflict with President Donald Trump. Despite this, NATO's leader, Mark Rutte, restated that Ukraine is very important. He also announced that European countries and Canada plan to give Ukraine over €35 billion in aid this year, though this exact total amount was not officially confirmed in the summit's final statements.
/*Broader Agenda: Iran, Cyber & Security Risks*/
While the summit still focused on defense spending, the specter of U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites hung over talks with threats of possible Iranian reprisal part of the conversation. Delegates also discussed cyber threats, instability in the Middle East, and possible Russian action against NATO member countries. A reported train cable outage near The Hague's main station, investigated as potential sabotage, brought home-front vulnerabilities to light.
/*Summit Layout, Security, and Next Steps*/
The summit was a two-day event (June 24-25), though some sessions were concise with only one major piece of business to prevent disruption and show respect for U.S. sensitivities. It cost an estimated €95 million to attend, under unprecedented security covering 27,000 police personnel, with military personnel also assisting with security and transport. In the future, allies will formalize the 5% spending target by 2035, with a review in 2029, commit to timelines, and monitor U.S. political signals that will shape NATO's solidarity.