NATO allies commit to 5% defence and security spending by 2035

NATO leaders meeting in The Hague on 25 June 2025 committed to annual investment equal to 5% of GDP in core defence and related security spending by 2035. The declaration reaffirmed collective defence and identified Russia as a long term threat to Euro-Atlantic security.

A decade of budget decisions

The commitment required allies to convert a long-term percentage target into spending on forces, equipment and related security needs. In Britain, that connected defence planning to infrastructure and public finances. Because the target is measured against GDP, both economic performance and budget allocations affect the scale of the adjustment needed by 2035.