Trump heads to NATO summit as Iran overshadows agenda

President Trump on Tuesday heads to Brussels for a whirlwind NATO summit at The Hague, Netherlands, hours after he announced that Iran and Israel had reached a ceasefire agreement.

The president hoped to secure during the summit a commitment from NATO allies to spend at least 5% of GDP on defense. But a day before he was to arrive, the alliance had already agreed to the boost in defense spending, according to Matthew Whitaker, U.S. ambassador to NATO. He told reporters in a briefing Monday that as a result of Mr. Trump's leadership, NATO was "on track" to make that "historic commitment" of 5%. 

The U.S. spent roughly 3.4% of GDP on defense in 2023, but the president said he thinks the U.S. should not have the same 5% target. 

"We've been supporting NATO so long, in many cases, I believe, paying almost 100% of the cost," he told reporters Friday. "So, I don't think we should, but I think that the NATO countries should, absolutely."

There is no clear timeline for the 5% commitment, however, and reaching that threshold could extend into the 2030s for some NATO countries, fueling criticism that the 5% promise could be an empty one.

NATO Allies to Increase Military Spending

While the Iran-Israel conflict dominates headlines, Trump’s primary goal at the summit is to push NATO allies toward a 5% of GDP defense spending target. The alliance reportedly agreed to the increase even before Trump’s arrival, with U.S. NATO ambassador Matthew Whitaker crediting Trump’s leadership for the shift.

However, Trump clarified the U.S. would not apply the 5% rule to itself, citing America’s outsized historical contributions: “We’ve been supporting NATO so long… I don’t think we should.”

Ukraine and Russia Also on the Agenda

Russia’s war in Ukraine remains a key point of concern for NATO. Though it’s unclear whether the final communiqué will label Russia the alliance’s primary threat, Whitaker said the U.S. expects the summit to be “direct and to the point.”

Trump also expressed support for continued diplomacy between Moscow and Kyiv, stating the U.S. is “engaged at the highest levels.”

Summit Format and Logistics

This year’s NATO summit in The Hague will feature a condensed format—just one two-and-a-half-hour session—with Trump also planning bilateral meetings on the sidelines. He is expected to return to Washington on Wednesday.