President Donald Trump has announced that NATO allies have committed to increasing their defense and security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, marking a significant enhancement in the alliance’s military capabilities. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump highlighted this move from the previous 2% benchmark as a crucial step for NATO’s strategic objectives.

The decision follows an agreement reached at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, where member nations pledged to allocate at least 3.5% of GDP towards core defense requirements. An additional 1.5% will be directed to defense-related investments and security needs, reflecting a broader commitment to collective security and military production.

NATO has reported substantial progress in this area, noting that European allies and Canada have increased their combined core defense expenditure by nearly 20% in real terms in 2025 compared to the previous year. This increase is part of the alliance’s efforts to bolster defense readiness amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Alongside the defense spending announcement, President Trump called for an end to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, emphasizing the significant loss of life resulting from the war. He assured that the United States would persist in its diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.

As NATO sets its sights on achieving the 5% GDP defense spending target by 2035, the alliance continues to emphasize the importance of enhancing its military capabilities to address emerging global security challenges.