In a pivotal moment for international security, President Donald J. Trump has secured a significant victory for the United States and its allies by orchestrating a historic agreement to substantially boost defense spending across the NATO alliance, ushering in a new era of shared responsibility in the face of global threats.
The landmark deal has garnered widespread acclaim both domestically and globally.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated, “Would you ever think that this would be the result of this summit if he would not have been re-elected president? … I think he deserves all the praise.”
Finnish President Alexander Stubb remarked, “We’re witnessing the birth of a new NATO … This is a big win, I think, for both President Trump and I think it’s also a big win for Europe.”
Polish President Andrzej Duda added, “Without the support and without the leadership of Donald Trump, it would be impossible.”
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal emphasized, “It’s a historic moment that we will be ramping up defense expenditure to five percent. I strongly, and Estonia strongly, support it.”
Furthermore, Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen noted, “I think he’s exactly right when he says that Europe needs to spend more.”
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressed, “Allies seem to be united. I think the understanding is everybody needs to do more for defense because we are living in very turbulent times.”
Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski remarked, “We should give credit where credit is due. President Trump was right in his first term when he said that allies were not fulfilling their own commitments from previous summits.”
CNN’s Joseph Ataman and Clare Sebastian described the outcome as “a diplomatic masterstroke.” POLITICO.eu labeled it a “Big win for Trump,” while the Associated Press reported that after less than a day in the Netherlands, Trump returned to Washington with a pivotal policy change he has advocated for since 2017: a significant increase in defense contributions from NATO countries.
The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board commented, “Trump Wins the Battle of NATO.” Foreign affairs analyst Jasmine El-Gamal stated, “It’s something that Trump is going to tout as an achievement, and he wouldn’t be wrong in doing so … It was clear that Trump is the mover and shaker and that he sets the tone and agenda.”
Le Monde noted, “Trump triumphant after NATO leaders agree on defense spending hike,” while De Volkskrant referred to it as the “Rebirth of NATO.” Der Standard highlighted that “At the urging of US President Donald Trump, NATO members are committing to massively increasing defense spending.”
Following the announcement, a bipartisan group of lawmakers applauded the development. Speaker Mike Johnson stated, “NATO countries bumping defense funding from less than 2% to 5%! No more free rides for the rest of the world. No more using the American taxpayer as their own personal piggy banks. THIS is the Trump effect.”
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Jim Risch added, “@NATO’s commitment to raise defense spending to 5% is a tremendous achievement. Thank you to @realDonaldTrump, @SecGenNATO, and our allies who worked to achieve this outcome. New investments in defense and industrial cooperation will strengthen the core pillar of NATO.”
Several senators echoed these sentiments. Sen. Ted Budd asserted, “Thanks to @POTUS, our NATO Allies have agreed to an increased annual defense investment of 5% of GDP — long the target. It’s about time Europe pays its fair share for our collective defense.” Sen. Chris Coons called it a “landmark summit,” while Sen. John Cornyn rejoiced at the news: “Allies have agreed to devote 5% of their economies to military spending, up from the current 2% floor.”
Sen. Ted Cruz remarked, “NATO’s commitment to step forward and invest more would’ve never happened without President Trump’s leadership,” and Sen. Lindsey Graham celebrated the agreement, calling it “historic and a game changer.”
Several representatives, including Rep. Mike Bost and Rep. Ken Calvert, also highlighted Trump’s influence in shifting financial responsibilities among NATO nations. Bost affirmed, “Thanks to President Trump’s bold leadership, NATO countries almost universally have committed to increasing their defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. This is a major victory for American taxpayers and a safer world.”
This unprecedented commitment marks a significant turning point in NATO’s approach to defense funding, emphasizing shared responsibility among member nations as they collectively face rising global threats.