The idea will be to close this Tuesday an agreement that obliges all members of NATO to spend 5% of GDP in defense.
The Dutch City of Hague hosts, Tuesday and Wednesday, the NATO Cimeira, predicting a new commitment among allies to spend more in defense in the face of world geopolitical instability.
There is a goal of allocating 3.5% of GDP of 32 countries combined with traditional military spending (Armed Forces, Equipment and Training) and 1.5% of additional GDP in double-use, civil and military infrastructures, an addition to the current goal of 2%.
This is the proposal that NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will take to the summit, but the percentages are not yet closed and also is defining the temporal goal To reach such expenses, whether 2032 or 2035.
It is certain that the perception of threat among the allies is more pronounced, which requires a greater investment in defense, as the US President Donald Trump has been defending, whose presence is expected in this Hague summit.
Portuguese government will anticipate 2% goal
In Portugal, the government announced that it would anticipate the goal of 2% of GDP in defense to 2025.
In 2024, Portugal invested about 4,480 million euros in defense, approximately 1.58% of its GDP, which put the country among the allies of NATO with the lowest military expense – Below the goal of 2% – according to estimates by the government and the organization.
Portugal will be represented at the Hague Summit Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and the Ministers of Foreign and Defense, Paulo Rangel and Nuno Melo.
In all, Hague receives in these two days 45 heads of government and state, 45 foreign ministers, 45 defense ministers, 900 guests, 6,000 members of the delegations and 2,000 journalists, totaling 9,000 participants, according to the organization.
In addition to the 32 NATO member countries, alliance summits have strategic partner countries, like Ukraineas well as representatives of organizations such as the European Union and countries that collaborate in military missions.
Zelensky received by Rutte and von der Leyen
The Ukrainian President is Received this Tuesday by Mark Rutte and the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The meeting takes place before the summit’s start.
The war between Russia and Ukraine should also mark the agenda at the allies meeting. Especially after Vladimir Putin said he is not willing to give up territory and that in order to advance peace talks, Kiev will have to recognize Russian sovereignty in occupied territories.
