NATO Summit: Defense Spending and UK Nuclear Arsenal Uptake

The Hague, Netherlands (AP) — June 25: Leaders from NATO member states, including U.S. President Donald Trump, are convening for a crucial summit in the Netherlands scheduled for Wednesday.

The key agenda item is the anticipated agreement on a new defense spending target, set at 5 percent of each country’s gross domestic product by the year 2035.

However, Spain has already declared that it considers the target “unreasonable” and cannot meet this new deadline. Belgium has similarly indicated its challenges in reaching the target, and Slovakia has asserted its right to independently determine its defense expenditure.

President Trump expressed his dissatisfaction on Tuesday, pointing out that "there's a problem with Spain" not agreeing to the target, calling it “unfair” to the other member nations.

Latest Developments:

UK Enhancing Nuclear Arsenal: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the acquisition of 12 U.S.-manufactured F35 fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons and emphasized the UK's commitment to NATO's shared airborne nuclear mission.

This move, described by the government as the “biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation,” marks a significant shift, as the UK had previously phased out air-dropped atomic weapons post-Cold War, relying instead on submarine-based missiles. Use of these nuclear resources would require approval from NATO’s nuclear planning group, along with consent from the U.S. president and UK prime minister.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised the UK's decision, acknowledging it as “another robust British contribution to NATO.”

NATO Chief Optimistic Before Summit: Mark Rutte expressed high expectations for a “transformational” NATO summit, where leaders aim to commit to substantial increases in defense spending.

President Trump is expected to arrive at the summit Wednesday, amidst discussions questioning his dedication to NATO’s mutual defense guarantee.

During his stay at the royal palace in The Hague, hosted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Trump emphasized the importance of equitable defense spending among NATO allies, targeting a 5 percent GDP allocation by 2035. Despite Spain’s resistance to this target, Trump maintained that “there's a problem with Spain. Spain is not agreeing, which is very unfair to the rest of them, frankly.”

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