The annual NATO summit is set to take place on the 24th in The Hague, Netherlands, which is hosting the summit for the first time. On the 13th, the Netherlands and Sweden jointly announced their plan to raise defense spending to 5% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to address the rapidly changing international climate and global security threats posed by Russia.

NATO Secretary-General and former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte held a joint press conference in Stockholm with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, where they announced that both countries would raise their defense budgets to 5% of GDP. Of this, 3.5% will go directly to core defense needs, while 1.5% will be allocated for strengthening critical infrastructure and other security-related investments, aimed at effectively addressing the current rapidly evolving international environment and the tangible threat of Russian expansion.

On the 26th of last month, Rutte had already indicated at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NPA) that the alliance would establish new defense spending standards and urged member states to increase their defense budgets to 5% of GDP. There’s an intent to reach a consensus at the NATO summit at the end of this month to enhance response capabilities against Russia and other geopolitical security threats. As this year's NATO summit host, the Netherlands is responding to the call for increased defense spending along with Sweden, which is expected to encourage other member states to meet the new benchmark and demonstrate Europe’s determination to take greater responsibility for its own security to the US.