In a strategic move to balance transatlantic demands, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has proposed that alliance members increase their core defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, alongside an additional 1.5% on other defense-related items — totaling the 5% threshold championed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
A Tactical Compromise Ahead of NATO Summit
Sources familiar with the proposal told Reuters that Rutte’s plan is designed to preempt criticism at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague this June, allowing Trump — a vocal critic of European defense contributions — to claim a symbolic victory without forcing European and Canadian allies into politically or economically unsustainable commitments.
What the Plan Entails
- 3.5% of GDP: Direct military expenditures, including troop readiness, weapons systems, and modernization.
- 1.5% of GDP: Indirect or supportive spending — such as cybersecurity, logistics, intelligence, and civil defense capacities tied to NATO’s collective security.
This layered approach aims to broaden the definition of defense commitment while avoiding the backlash that a full 5% military-only target could provoke among taxpayers and parliaments.
Background
NATO’s current formal goal, reaffirmed in the 2014 Wales Summit, calls for members to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense. While some members have reached or exceeded that goal, many have not. Trump’s renewed pressure — especially amid the U.S. election cycle — has amplified the call for a more equitable security burden within the alliance.
