<p>NATO leaders on Wednesday backed increasing defense spending to 5% of their country&#8217;s gross domestic product by 2035, a major diplomatic victory for President Donald Trump, who has for years demanded “freeloading” allies pay their fair share for their own security.</p>
<p>According to Reuters, almost all NATO members <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/nato-leaders-set-back-trump-defence-spending-goal-hague-summit-2025-06-24/">backed</a> a statement committing to the target, excluding Spain and possibly Slovakia. An official signing is expected on Wednesday before the end of the conference.</p>
<p>The new defense spending goal more than doubles NATO&#8217;s current 2% target.</p>
<p>The spending commitment is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-heads-to-nato-summit-demanding-freeloading-allies-pay-their-fair-share?author=Nathan+Gay&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Heads+To+NATO+Summit+Demanding+%E2%80%98Freeloading%E2%80%99+Allies+Pay+Their+Fair+Share">divided</a> into two parts: 3.5% for traditional military spending, such as air defense and recruitment, while the remaining 1.5% can include infrastructure, like roads and bridges that troops could use.</p>
<p>&#8220;There is absolute conviction with my colleagues at the table that, given this threat from the Russians, given the international security situation, there is no alternative,&#8221; NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters.</p>
<p>Finnish President Alexander Stubb, whose country borders Russia, described the shift as &#8220;the birth of a new NATO, which means a more balanced NATO and a NATO which has more European responsibility.&#8221;</p>
<p>Spain broke ranks by declaring it doesn&#8217;t need to meet the goal, claiming it can fulfill its commitments by spending much less, a sentiment that angered many at the conference, including Rutte.</p>
<p>“We fully respect the legitimate desire of other countries to increase their defense investment, but we are not going to do it,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said. In 2024, Spain’s defense expenditure as a share of GDP stood at 1.28%, the lowest of any NATO member.</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Slovakia appears poised to follow Spain in shunning the spending increase. Slovakia&#8217;s Prime Minister Robert Fico said Tuesday that his country “has other priorities in the coming years than armament.” </span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">S T A T E M E N T<br />of the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico<br />23 June 2025</p>
<p>The Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic points out that all international political, security, and legal mechanisms intended for decision-making and mandates on the use of military force in… <a href="https://t.co/GFvnGaiuXs">pic.twitter.com/GFvnGaiuXs</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Robert Fico 🇸🇰 (@RobertFicoSVK) <a href="https://twitter.com/RobertFicoSVK/status/1937149180482326655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p>Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, whose country allocates a higher percentage of its GDP for defense than any NATO member, blasted Spain’s lack of commitment.</p>
<p>“We believe that any deviation from this principle by any member country is a bad example,” Kosiniak-Kamysz <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/spain-nato-canada-defense-target-spending-gdp/">said</a> before flying to the summit.</p>
<p>“It’s incredibly unfair to the alliance,” another NATO official said to POLITICO.</p>
<p>Trump, who has criticized NATO members for inadequate defense spending since his first administration, is scheduled to meet separately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following the summit. Zelensky attended a pre-summit dinner Tuesday evening but was not invited to Wednesday&#8217;s main session.</p>

<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Trump Triumphs: NATO Bows To U.S. Pressure With 5% Defense Pledge

CONTINUE READING

Trump’s ‘Economic Fury’ Hits Iran Hard. A Shadow Fleet Keeps The Oil Flowing.

Republicans Revolt And Hand Dems Stunning Win Against Trump’s Redistricting Push

Matt Walsh’s Idea For Foreign-Born Lawmakers Makes It To The House Floor

Judge Rules On Cameras In Charlie Kirk Murder Trial

Trump Announces Ceasefire In Russia-Ukraine War

Prayer Mats. Gender Dividers. Quran Readings. Classroom Changes During Ramadan Paid For By Taxpayers

News

Donald Trump

Europe

Global Politics

NATO

Politics

Ukraine-Russia War

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Trump Triumphs: NATO Bows To U.S. Pressure With 5% Defense Pledge