At a high-stakes summit in The Hague, NATO allies affirmed their ironclad commitment to collective defense under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. However, noticeably absent was any condemnation of Russia’s war in Ukraine—a stark shift from previous communiques under former President Joe Biden.
Instead, the focus shifted toward ramped-up defense spending and internal alliance unity, as leaders tried to keep U.S. President Donald Trump aligned with NATO’s goals amid his longstanding skepticism of the alliance.
Article 5 Reaffirmed Amid Doubts
NATO leaders unanimously backed Article 5, declaring that an “attack on one is an attack on all.” This core principle remains the backbone of the alliance.
“We reaffirm our ironclad commitment to collective defence as enshrined in Article 5,” the joint statement read.
However, Trump’s recent remarks questioning what Article 5 means for the U.S. raised concerns. His suggestion that obligations may be conditional could weaken NATO’s deterrence credibility.
Ukraine Left in Limbo Again
Ukraine, once on what NATO had called an “irreversible path” to membership, received no such assurance in this latest communique. Nor did the final statement contain any direct condemnation of Russia’s invasion, a break from tradition that underscores a shifting diplomatic tone.
The only mention of the war came through vague support language:
“Allies reaffirm their enduring sovereign commitments to provide support to Ukraine…”
Still, this statement fell short of previous strong-worded rebukes of Moscow’s aggression.
A Big Boost in NATO Defense Spending
NATO also unveiled a major new pledge: a 5% of GDP annual investment in defense and security-related areas by 2035. This figure includes:
- 3.5% on core defense (up from the current 2% target)
- 1.5% on national resilience infrastructure (roads, cyber, energy)
This shift appears designed to appease Trump, who has long criticized NATO allies for underfunding their militaries.
However, questions remain about enforcement. For example, Spain already signaled agreement with the goal but admitted it has no actionable plan to meet it.
Trump’s Influence Shapes NATO Strategy
President Trump’s close ties with Vladimir Putin—and his unpredictable stance on NATO—loomed large over the summit. European leaders and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte have been scrambling to keep the U.S. engaged and onboard.
Trump has promised to end Russia’s war in Ukraine but has offered no clear roadmap for achieving that goal. His emphasis on burden-sharing and spending, however, has significantly influenced the alliance’s new direction.
What Comes Next for NATO and Ukraine?
While NATO’s ironclad commitment to collective defense was highlighted in the communique, the lack of a unified stance on Ukraine and Russia signals a complex, shifting geopolitical landscape.
This summit emphasized cohesion and spending—but left some critical questions unanswered:
- Will NATO formally commit to Ukraine’s future membership?
- Can unity survive differing views on Russia and Trump’s ambiguous commitments?
