On 24 and 25 June, the heads of state and government of the 32 NATO member countries, as well as their partners and the European Union, were due to meet for a summit in The Hague. The US bombardment of strategic Iranian sites has turned the agenda upside down, with support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's invasion taking a back seat, despite the presence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
While all eyes were on Donald Trump – whom the NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte had designed the meeting to please – the question of investment in defense capabilities remained at the top of the agenda. NATO members are expected to agree to allocate 5% of their respective GDP to defense by 2035. The ambitious target is designed to protect Europe, deter Russia and send the desired signal to the man in the White House.
Join the discussion
Become a member to translate comments and participate