NATO members have agreed to ramp up defense spending to 5% of GDP annually by 2035, a move hailed as a "monumental win" by U.S. President Donald Trump during the alliance's summit in The Hague. The decision aims to bolster military readiness and support for Ukraine amid ongoing tensions with Russia. 🌍⚔️
The spending plan splits funds into two buckets: 3.5% for core defense (think tanks, troops, and tech) and 1.5% for critical infrastructure and industrial capabilities. A midterm review in 2029 will check if the targets still make sense in a rapidly changing world. 📊
Trump took a victory lap, claiming the U.S. had long carried NATO's financial burden and calling Spain the lone holdout. Madrid pushed back, warning that rushing to 5% could spike inflation and hurt education investments. 🇪🇸📉
Despite the drama, leaders reaffirmed NATO's "ironclad" collective defense pledge, easing fears of weakened U.S. commitment. But there's a twist: Europe will now take the lead on military aid to Ukraine, while the U.S. focuses on intelligence and air defense support. 🤝🛡️
As debates over costs and priorities heat up, one thing’s clear: The global security playbook is getting a major rewrite. 💥
