NATO Ministers set the stage for The Hague summit

NATO Foreign Ministers concluded two days of high-level talks in Brussels on Friday, laying the foundation for July’s summit in The Hague.

The meetings placed strong emphasis on strengthening collective defence, increasing defence investment across the Alliance, and deepening support for Ukraine.

Marking NATO’s 76th anniversary, Secretary General Mark Rutte said the Alliance’s role is more vital than ever. “As the world grows more dangerous, we are united in our commitment to each other in this Alliance,” he told reporters, framing NATO as a pillar of global stability amid rising geopolitical tensions.

A key theme of the ministerial was defence spending. Rutte highlighted what he described as “the biggest increase in defence spending on the European side of NATO since the end of the Cold War,” reflecting a push to meet or exceed the 2% of GDP target. The topic is expected to remain central at The Hague summit.

Thursday’s agenda also included coordination with Indo-Pacific partners — Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand — acknowledging growing strategic ties between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions. “The war in Ukraine is but one example of this,” Rutte said, noting the support Russia continues to receive from China, Iran, and North Korea. “This poses risks to us all.”

The NATO-Ukraine Council also met during the session, where Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas joined ministers to discuss the path toward a lasting peace. Rutte reaffirmed NATO’s backing: “We have to make sure that whenever a ceasefire or a peace deal is reached, that it is enduring, that it is lasting.”

Allies have already committed more than €20 billion in military aid to Ukraine in the first quarter of 2025, with further pledges expected ahead of the summit.

Friday’s final session brought NATO and EU representatives together to discuss closer cooperation, industrial defence capacity, and regional security, particularly in the Western Balkans.

Concluding the meetings, Rutte said NATO’s enduring strength lies in its unity and readiness. “Through the years, working together, Allies have delivered security through strength. From all I heard during the last two days, we are well on track to continue delivering well into the future.”