NATO members, initially wary of U.S. President Donald Trump as they gathered for their annual summit in The Hague, Switzerland, concluded the meeting with a unified agreement to increase military spending to 5% of GDP. They also received firm assurances from President Trump that the United States would uphold its commitment to defend any member nation under attack.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte played a key role in securing the agreement. He worked diligently to persuade member nations to boost their defense budgets and made efforts to remain in good standing with President Trump ahead of his arrival in Europe.

The only member nation that has yet to commit to the new spending target is Spain, which currently allocates just 1.28% of its GDP to defense. President Trump openly expressed his disappointment with Spain and stated he would address the issue during upcoming trade negotiations.

More than ever, NATO is seeking to reaffirm the dedication of its members—especially the United States—to its mission. The ongoing war in Ukraine and continuing unrest in the Middle East have created growing concerns among alliance members, many of whom rely on U.S. military strength to deter threats.