Substance Over Symbolism: NATO’s Subtle but Strategic Shift

Key takeaways from the NATO Summit in The Hague by Leonid Litra, Senior Research Fellow of the New Europe Center:

• What was expected to be a modest NATO summit turned out to be a highly significant one.
• While it lacked major political announcements—aside from a renewed U.S. commitment to Article 5—it delivered substantial practical outcomes.
• The agreement to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP, with 3.5% allocated to military capabilities and 1.5% to defence-related areas, marks a critical step toward reinvestment and rearmament.
• This decision also gives a notable boost to NATO’s European pillar. If allies follow through, it will lead to a meaningful rebalancing of defence spending within the Alliance, with Europe assuming a more prominent role.
• For Ukraine, the summit was a quiet but important success. Military aid to Ukraine will now count toward member states’ contributions to the official defence target. This mechanism helps address Ukraine’s financial vulnerability and ensures a more stable and predictable flow of military support—less dependent on political cycles.
• Equally important, the summit declaration reaffirmed the Alliance’s ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine—an outcome few had anticipated.
• The unexpected highlight was the Zelenskyy–Trump meeting, offering Ukraine another opportunity to strengthen coordination with the U.S. and potentially secure President Trump’s support going forward.