By Aybars Arda Kılıçer
NATO, the unrivaled actor of global security in the post-Cold War era, now finds itself struggling to maintain its influence amid a growing number of international crises.
Against the backdrop of an escalating missile crisis between U.S.-backed Israel and an increasingly isolated Iran, Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine, and shifting power dynamics within the U.S. itself, NATO allies have gathered in The Hague, Netherlands, to draft a new roadmap for the alliance.
The talks, which began on Tuesday, June 24, are expected to continue until Thursday, June 26. The key agenda items include strengthening NATO’s support for Ukraine, ramping up defense spending, an issue driven largely by U.S. President Donald Trump’s mounting pressure on allies, and the widening transatlantic rift between Washington and European capitals.
This year’s summit carries additional significance as it marks the first NATO gathering since Donald Trump began his second term in the White House. It’s also the debut summit for NATO’s new Secretary General, former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
In the past six months, the Trump administration has triggered a series of crises both at home and abroad, signaling that the next four years could bring significant political upheaval. With wars raging in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and growing political uncertainty in Washington, the alliance’s de facto leader, NATO faces one of the most complex chapters in its recent history.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s so-called “special military operation,” launched with the goal of toppling Ukraine’s pro-Western government in just three days, has now dragged into its third year. But the situation looks far from promising for either Kyiv or NATO.
Back in February 2022, NATO stood united against Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But now, even within the alliance, there are growing divisions over how to proceed.
Eastern flank members like Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, long wary of Russian expansionism, are pushing for stronger military support to Ukraine. Meanwhile, countries like Slovakia and Hungary argue it’s time to cut a deal with Moscow. This dovetails with President Trump’s increasingly conciliatory rhetoric toward Russia, amplifying these voices within the alliance.
A heated exchange between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a televised meeting at the White House symbolized just how fractured the alliance has become over the war. Although recent tensions between Trump and Putin have cooled this narrative slightly, calls for a negotiated settlement with Russia are far from off the table.
NATO’s new Secretary General Mark Rutte weighed in with a notable statement:
"Our priority must be ensuring Ukraine is in the strongest possible position, not only to continue resisting Russia’s unprovoked aggression but also to negotiate from strength when the time comes for a ceasefire or peace deal. This is the only way to guarantee Putin never attempts such aggression again."
Still, the alliance’s increasingly fragmented landscape makes sustaining this traditional hawkish approach more challenging than ever.
Another fault line exposed in The Hague is the deepening rift between the U.S. and its European allies, sharpened by the return of Trump’s “America First” doctrine.
Trump’s approach, often dismissive of European security concerns, has raised serious questions about the alliance’s long-term cohesion. It’s clear that The Hague summit will serve as a stress test for NATO’s durability amid these widening strategic and political gaps.
Yet, Rutte sought to project reassurance ahead of the summit, stating that “The President of the United States and the American leadership remain fully committed to NATO.” While the remark signals that transatlantic ties are intact, it’s also understood that this commitment comes with an expectation: Europe, and Canada, must ramp up their defense spending.
At the heart of the matter lies a crucial question: Can NATO bridge its internal divides and remain united against common threats? With the Trump administration increasingly pivoting toward confronting China, not just economically but also militarily, the extent to which Washington will accommodate European concerns remains uncertain. This makes the 2025 Hague summit a pivotal moment not only for NATO but for the future of transatlantic relations.
As closed-door meetings and bilateral talks continued, the summit’s draft communiqué, released on Wednesday, June 25, offered critical insights into NATO’s future direction.
One of the most striking passages reaffirmed the alliance’s founding commitment:
"As the heads of state and government of the North Atlantic Alliance, we convene in The Hague to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to NATO, the most powerful alliance in history. We stand by Article 5 of the Washington Treaty: an attack against one is an attack against all."
This declaration signals that NATO remains firmly rooted in its collective defense principles, offering a continued security guarantee to all member states.
Another major development came on the contentious issue of defense spending. After weeks of negotiations, the communiqué reveals that member states have agreed to raise their defense and security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Under the deal, 3.5% will be allocated to "core defense" (troops, equipment, and military systems), while the remaining 1.5% will be directed toward cyber defense, military infrastructure, and the protection of critical assets.
Taken together, these decisions underscore that the 2025 Hague Summit is a turning point for NATO and the broader transatlantic security architecture. Whether the delicate balance between an increasingly America-centric Washington and its European allies can be maintained remains an open question.
The summit concluded with the announcement that the next NATO gathering in 2026 will be hosted by Türkiye, a signal that the coming year could bring not only major shifts in global security but also structural changes to the alliance itself.
