The Hague: US President Donald Trump announced that NATO allies' new commitment to defense spending, set at 5% of each member state's gross domestic product (GDP), is projected to contribute over $1 trillion annually to collective defense efforts.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump made this announcement during an alliance summit in The Hague. He emphasized the historic nature of this agreement, remarking, "In a very historic milestone this week, the NATO allies committed to dramatically increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP, something that no one really thought possible." The 32 NATO member states have pledged to meet this target by 2035, ensuring that at least 3.5% of GDP will be dedicated to core defense expenditures, while up to 1.5% will focus on cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, and industrial capacity-building.

Trump referred to this new agreement as "The Hague defense commitment," underlining its importance for the security of Europe and the broader global community. He stated, "This is an ongoing project. This is the safety of Europe, the safety of the world."

The increase to a 5% target marks significant progress from the previous 2% benchmark. Trump attributed this advancement to his own efforts and pressure on allied nations. He recounted that some leaders expressed surprise at the achievement, having struggled to reach even 3% in the past two decades.

Trump noted that the momentum for this change gained traction following his US election victory last November. He mentioned that nearly all NATO members are swiftly developing plans to meet the new targets, with the exception of Spain, which he described as "the most hostile" toward the increase.