Doorstep statement by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the start of the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague
25 June 2025 | The Hague, Netherlands
In a landmark move amid mounting security concerns, the Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Alliance have issued a powerful joint declaration from The Hague, reaffirming NATO’s unity and redefining future defence commitments across the Alliance.
The declaration reiterates the inviolability of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty—“an attack on one is an attack on all”—and sets a bold new trajectory for transatlantic defence strategy by calling on all NATO Allies to invest 5% of their GDPannually on core defence and security needs by 2035.
Two-Tier Commitment to Strengthen Capabilities
The 5% benchmark will be divided into two primary categories:
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At least 3.5% of GDP dedicated annually to meet NATO’s defence expenditure definitions and Capability Targets.
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Up to 1.5% of GDP focused on critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, civil preparedness, technological innovation, and the strengthening of national and collective defence industries.
All Allies have agreed to submit annual national plans outlining their incremental paths toward these goals, with a formal review of progress and strategic alignment scheduled for 2029.
Securing the Future, Supporting Ukraine
The declaration leaves no ambiguity about NATO’s long-term posture. While Russia is described as a persistent and long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security, the Allies also commit to ongoing support for Ukraine, stating that direct contributions to Ukraine’s defence and industrial capacity will be counted toward defence spending.
Deepening Industrial and Technological Integration
Another cornerstone of the summit was the call to rapidly expand transatlantic defence industrial cooperation. Allies pledged to remove trade barriers, harness innovation, and integrate emerging technologies to strengthen collective deterrence and operational readiness.
Looking ahead, NATO leaders will reconvene in Türkiye in 2026, followed by a subsequent summit in Albania, continuing the Alliance’s tradition of shared responsibility, geographic inclusivity, and forward planning.
The Hague Summit marks not only a recommitment to NATO’s foundational principles, but a profound shift in how the Alliance prepares to defend its billion citizens in a transformed security landscape.
By: Katerina Urbanova
Photo Credit: NATO
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