NATO’s 5% Pledge: Europe’s Defense Test Begins

At the recent NATO summit in The Hague, European leaders agreed to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 — aiming to reassure Donald Trump and protect NATO unity. But the real challenge lies ahead: finding the money, spending it effectively, and preparing for a possible U.S. troop drawdown in Europe.
The target includes 3.5% for military capabilities and 1.5% for related investments like cyber and mobility. Only a few countries — such as Germany, Poland, and the Baltic states — are financially capable of meeting this goal. Others, including France and Spain, are already facing political pushback.
While the EU is creating funding tools like the SAFE loans scheme, it’s crucial that funds don’t flow mostly to U.S. arms-makers. Boosting European defense autonomy requires better industrial coordination and joint procurement — especially in areas like long-range strike, airlift, and satellite systems.
Another concern is the future of American troops in Europe. A Pentagon review may result in withdrawing forces deployed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
As Czech President Petr Pavel noted, no single country can meet these goals alone. Europe must act collectively — in policy, industry, and defense.