NATO leaders convene amid Middle East turmoil and defense spending push

World leaders have gathered in The Hague for a high-stakes, two-day NATO summit taking place against the backdrop of a dramatically escalating crisis in the Middle East. While the conflict involving the United States, Iran, and Israel is not officially on the summit agenda, it is widely expected to dominate behind-the-scenes talks.

The summit opened Tuesday with formal addresses ahead of a special evening dinner for alliance leaders. The central meeting is scheduled for Wednesday and is expected to run for two to three hours.

At the heart of this year's summit is the issue of defense spending. President Trump is insisting NATO allies significantly increase their contributions, demanding a sharp rise from the previously agreed 2 percent of GDP to 5 percent.

According to a draft declaration already agreed upon over the weekend, NATO partners will reach a collective target of 3.5  percent GDP on traditional defense such as weaponry and troop deployment by 2035, with an additional 1.5 percent to be allocated to items such as cybersecurity and intelligence.

On Tuesday, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, addressed delegates in an effort to reassure European partners about America's commitment to the alliance.

"We've never been more engaged, that's the thing," Whittaker said. "I sound like a broken record... whether it's in Estonia or Latvia or in Türkiye—wherever I've been. The United States isn't going anywhere. We're expecting our European allies to step up to be equal partners with us in the alliance. That strength, with all of us, all 32 allies, is what's going to deliver peace. But the United States is here to stay."

Despite growing tensions in the Middle East, NATO leaders are also reaffirming their commitment to Ukraine. Some member states have voiced concerns that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine could be overshadowed during the summit.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sought to allay those fears in his opening remarks, stating that there is strong consensus within the alliance to maintain support for Kyiv.

Security in The Hague has been dramatically heightened, with measures including frigates patrolling the North Sea, over 27,000 police officers deployed across the region, and a constant aerial buzz from helicopters monitoring activity over the city.

As tensions ripple across both Eastern Europe and the Middle East, this NATO summit is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in recent years.