The NATO countries, following the alliance summit in The Hague that ended on Thursday, pledged to allocate up to 5% of GDP to defence by 2035, which is 2.5 times higher than the current level of 2%, agreed by the North Atlantic allies back in 2006.
“NATO members commit to investing 5% of GDP annually in core defence requirements, as well as defence- and security-related expenditures by 2035, to ensure that individual and collective commitments are met,” the final communiqué adopted at The Hague summit states.
As part of these expenditures, the draft statement notes that by 2035, alliance members will allocate at least 3.5% of GDP “based on an agreed definition of NATO defence expenditure” and up to 1.5% of GDP “to protect critical infrastructure, networks, ensuring civil preparedness and resilience, stimulating innovation and strengthening the defence industrial base.”
As noted in the draft communiqué, the alliance member states “will take into account direct contributions to the defence needs of Ukraine and its defence industry when calculating the defence spending of allies.”
Meanwhile, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Unbowed (LFI), criticised the decision to increase spending on X:
“Macron has signed: 100 billion per year, 5% of GDP for military spending. Twice the budget for education… A worthless and invalid decision taken by one man and never voted on by a parliament that was not even consulted. Information: after 2027, the presidency of the “Rebels” will not accept this order from Trump. We will spend money on what we need and nothing more. And we will adapt our strategies to our capabilities. Those who prepare for war will get war. We will build peace.”
