The Netherlands has set an ambitious goal — to allocate 5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defense
This decision by the country’s interim government has become a significant milestone in the effort to strengthen national security and aligns with NATO’s new requirements for defense spending among Alliance members. This was officially announced on Friday during a press conference by government officials, including Prime Minister Dijk Shooft, who in a letter to the House of Representatives expressed the intention to reach a defense expenditure level of 3.5% of GDP by 2026. Additionally, it is planned to spend a further 1.5% of GDP on defense needs, bringing the total to 5%, which is the requirement set by NATO. "As war is on our continent, our security can no longer be taken for granted. Therefore, we are committed to increasing investments in our own defense. NATO plays a key role in this," the prime minister stated in his letter. According to the official Dutch budget for 2026, defense expenditures are already planned to amount to 2.2% of GDP, which includes funding for supporting Ukraine in its fight against the aggressor. It is expected that at the upcoming NATO summit, scheduled for June 24–25 in The Hague, member countries will formally approve the target of 5% of GDP for defense as a mandatory standard for all Alliance members. Media sources indicate that part of these expenses may be directed towards more active support for Ukraine. This would mean strengthening Ukrainian defense forces and increasing their capacity to resist Russian aggression. These steps are expected to contribute to the stabilization of the security situation in the region and additionally emphasize the importance of joint efforts in the face of contemporary geopolitical challenges. Periodically, reports emerge about possible compromises at the Hague summit, particularly regarding funding and support for Ukraine. However, the most important outcome should be the adoption of clear and binding commitments from all partner countries regarding defense expenditure levels, which would give Ukraine an additional impetus to enhance its own defense capabilities.