NATO Summit 2025 – The Hague (24–25 June 2025)

• Host: Netherlands (The Hague)
• Scale: ~9,000 participants, incl. ~45 Heads of State, Foreign Ministers, Defence Ministers, 6,000 delegates, 2,000 journalists.
• Key Decisions:
  • New benchmark of 5% GDP on defence (3.5% for core defence, 1.5% for infrastructure & industry).
  • Adoption of The Hague Defence Investment Plan.
  • Continued support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.
  • Commitment to boost defence industrial production across NATO.
• Major Forums alongside Summit:
  • NATO Public Forum – engaging public, journalists, youth, experts.
  • NATO Defence Industry Forum – focus on scaling defence industry.
  • Working Dinners: NATO Defence Ministers, NATO Foreign Ministers (+Ukraine).
• Special Attendees:
  • NATO Members: 32 (incl. Finland & Sweden).
  • Partners: Ukraine (Zelenskyy), Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea.
  • EU: President of European Council, President of European Commission.
• Highlights:
  • Dutch King Willem-Alexander & Queen Maxima hosted leaders at Huis ten Bosch Palace.
  • First major NATO summit led by new Secretary General Mark Rutte.
  • Security scale unprecedented – thousands of police & restrictions in The Hague, Amsterdam, Rotterdam.
• Next NATO Summit: 2026 in Türkiye.
  
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• 📝 UPSC Notes – NATO, Article 5 & Ukraine Issue

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  NATO: Background & Membership

  • Full form: North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
  • Founded: 1949 (Washington D.C.) with 12 founding members.
  • Original Purpose: Collective security against Soviet Union expansion.

• 🔹 Founding Members (1949)

  Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, UK, USA

  🔹 Expansion (Post-Cold War)

  • Eastern & Central Europe joined: Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia.
  • Recent members:
    • Finland → April 2023 (1,340 km border with Russia).
    • Sweden → March 2024.
  • Total Members (2025): 32 countries.
  • Aspirants: Ukraine, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia.

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  NATO’s Article 5

  • Core Principle: Collective defence.
  • Text: “An armed attack against one shall be considered an attack against all.”
  • Response: Members take action “as deemed necessary,” including military force.
  • Limitations: Applies only to alliance territories, not to overseas bases or external wars (e.g., Vietnam, Falklands).
  • Invoked only once: After 9/11 terrorist attacks (2001).

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  NATO Defence Spending

  • Target (current): 2% of GDP (non-binding).
  • US: Largest spender – $935 bn in 2024 (3.2% GDP).
  • Defence gap: 9 countries failed 2% target in 2024 (Spain lowest at 1.24%).
  • Future Goal (2025 Hague Summit):
    • 3.5% GDP for core defence by 2035.
    • +1.5% GDP for security infrastructure → Total 5%.

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  Why is Ukraine not a NATO member?

  • 2008: NATO declared Ukraine “could join in future.”
  • Obstacle: Russia’s opposition → fears NATO at its borders.
  • Post-2022 Invasion: Zelensky sought fast-track membership.
  • NATO’s stance: Ukraine can join after war ends (not during active conflict).
  • US view (2025): NATO membership for Ukraine is not realistic in settlement talks.

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  Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine (2022 – ongoing)

  🔹 Causes (from Russian perspective)

  1. NATO Expansion Fear: Russia saw NATO moving closer (Baltic states, Finland, Sweden, possible Ukraine).
  2. Strategic Buffer: Ukraine is crucial for Russia’s western security frontier.
  3. Historical Claim: Putin views Ukraine as part of “historical Russia.”
  4. Black Sea Access: Crimea (annexed 2014) vital for Russia’s naval dominance.
  5. Prevent EU/Western alignment: Ukraine’s closer ties with EU/NATO seen as geopolitical threat.

• 🔹 International Response

  • NATO avoided direct troop deployment (fear of nuclear escalation).
  • Individual member states gave aid & arms.
    • US support: €64.6 bn (2022–2025).
    • EU+UK+Norway+Switzerland+Iceland: €79.8 bn.

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  Security Guarantees Debate (2025)

  • At Washington DC talks (Aug 2025):
    • Trump + Zelensky + EU leaders discussed “security guarantees” for Ukraine.
    • Idea: European-led protection in coordination with US → not full NATO membership.
  • Still unclear if guarantees will mirror Article 5.
    
    
    
    Updated: 19 August 2025; 11:21 PM| https://www.nato.int/ & BBC