NATO commits to doubling military budgets: Live Updates

The US-led bloc’s member states agreed to significantly increase military expenditures

The leaders of NATO member states agreed to a historic increase in defense spending at a two-day summit in the Hague, making a commitment to raise expenditures from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035. 

US President Donald Trump touted the meeting as a “great victory,” praising allies for stepping up spending, which he has heavily pushed since his first term in the White House. 

At the same time, he defended his decision to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities and compared the operation to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, claiming it similarly “ended a war” by forcing a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.  

Trump also revealed plans for direct US-Iran talks next week, though he downplayed the need for a formal nuclear deal, asserting that Iran’s program had already been “destroyed,” despite reports suggesting only limited damage.

In a shift from previous NATO summits, the final communiqué avoided direct mention of Ukraine’s conflict with Russia, focusing instead on “long-term threats.” The document makes only one mention of Ukraine, stating that NATO members had reaffirmed their commitment to provide support to Kiev and continue direct contributions to the country’s military industry.

Ukrainian Leader Vladimir Zelensky attended a pre-summit dinner but was excluded from the main meeting, though he later held talks with Trump. A ceasefire was not on the agenda during a meeting with Zelensky, Trump told journalists.