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Dutch government supports NATO spending target of 5% of GDP

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on June 13, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

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THE HAGUE (Reuters) -The Dutch caretaker government is in favour of increasing the country's defence spending to a total of 5% of gross domestic product, in line with a target set by NATO, Defence

Dutch government supports NATO spending target of 5% of GDP

THE HAGUE (Reuters) -The Dutch caretaker government is in favour of increasing the country's defence spending to a total of 5% of gross domestic product, in line with a target set by NATO, Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans said on Friday.

"The government supports the new NATO norm to spend 3.5% on defence and 1.5% on defence-related measures," Brekelmans said in a post on X.

"Given the increasing threats this is necessary to keep the Netherlands safe."

At a NATO summit this month in The Hague, alliance members are expected to agree to an overall military spending target of 5% of GDP, with 3.5% of GDP going to core military spending and another 1.5% for defence and security-related investments.

(Reporting by Bart Meijer; Writing by Benoit Van Overstraeten; Editing by Timothy Heritage and Gareth Jones)

Key Takeaways

  • Dutch government supports NATO's 5% GDP defence spending target.
  • 3.5% of GDP will be allocated to core military spending.
  • 1.5% of GDP will go towards defence-related measures.
  • Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced the support.
  • NATO summit in The Hague to discuss military spending.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Dutch government's position on NATO spending?
The Dutch caretaker government supports increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP in line with NATO's target.
What percentage of GDP is proposed for core military spending?
The proposal includes 3.5% of GDP for core military spending and an additional 1.5% for defense-related measures.
Why does the Dutch government believe increased spending is necessary?
The government states that given the increasing threats, this spending is necessary to keep the Netherlands safe.
When is the NATO summit taking place?
The NATO summit is taking place this month in The Hague.
Who reported on this development?
The information was reported by Bart Meijer, with writing and editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten, Timothy Heritage, and Gareth Jones.

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