The NATO deal
Jun. 25th, 2025 10:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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talkpoliticsNews just came from The Hague, where Trump led a surprisingly smooth NATO summit. In a nutshell:
Trump got his headline win: NATO leaders agreed to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 (3.5% for core military costs, 1.5% for broader security needs). This came after steady pressure from him.
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/nato-leaders-set-back-trump-defence-spending-goal-hague-summit-2025-06-24/
He affirmed his support for Article 5 (collective defense) after earlier doubts. "I stand with it ... that's why I'm here," he said.
And yes, Trump wasn't shy calling out Spain for opting out. He even hinted at tougher trade negotiations: "We're going to make them pay twice as much."
Trump framed this outcome as a major victory for the US, NATO, and Western security. "We had a great victory here," he said. Very Trump style.
Of course this was classic Trump. All drama, all deal. He held NATO's feet to the fire and walked away with a commitment no one thought possible. Yes, some allies grumbled, but getting everyone (even Spain with its carve‑out) to sign on to 5% is no small feat. It's a win that gives Europe more skin in the game and lets Trump claim he secured billions more for US made arms. Credit where credit is due. He played it like a champ: commanding, unapologetic, and very on-brand.
This will be a highlight of Trump's, that's for sure.
Trump got his headline win: NATO leaders agreed to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 (3.5% for core military costs, 1.5% for broader security needs). This came after steady pressure from him.
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/nato-leaders-set-back-trump-defence-spending-goal-hague-summit-2025-06-24/
He affirmed his support for Article 5 (collective defense) after earlier doubts. "I stand with it ... that's why I'm here," he said.
And yes, Trump wasn't shy calling out Spain for opting out. He even hinted at tougher trade negotiations: "We're going to make them pay twice as much."
Trump framed this outcome as a major victory for the US, NATO, and Western security. "We had a great victory here," he said. Very Trump style.
Of course this was classic Trump. All drama, all deal. He held NATO's feet to the fire and walked away with a commitment no one thought possible. Yes, some allies grumbled, but getting everyone (even Spain with its carve‑out) to sign on to 5% is no small feat. It's a win that gives Europe more skin in the game and lets Trump claim he secured billions more for US made arms. Credit where credit is due. He played it like a champ: commanding, unapologetic, and very on-brand.
This will be a highlight of Trump's, that's for sure.
