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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on BBC or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: At a summit in The Hague, NATO leaders agreed to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, responding to sustained pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump
• The pledge comprises 3.5% for core defence and up to 1.5% for security-related investments
• Trump called it a “big win for Europe and Western civilisation,” while leaders reaffirmed NATO’s mutual defence commitment amidst rising geopolitical tensions
🔭 The context: This marks a significant escalation from NATO’s previous 2% target, long criticized by Trump as insufficient
• The move comes amid Russia’s ongoing threat to European security and a broader deterioration in global stability, including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East
• Trump’s past criticisms of NATO’s spending disparity shaped this summit’s outcomes, despite internal dissent from members like Spain and Belgium
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: While primarily a security measure, the increased military spending may impact public budgets, possibly diverting resources from climate and sustainability initiatives
• However, investment in resilient infrastructure and regional stability could indirectly support sustainable development by mitigating conflict-driven environmental degradation
⏭️ What's next: Member states must now recalibrate national budgets to meet the new 5% target, a process likely to stir domestic debate, particularly in countries facing fiscal constraints
• The implementation will be monitored over a decade, with strategic spending assessments including support to Ukraine’s defence industry
• Future NATO summits will likely scrutinize compliance and impact, as geopolitical risks remain high
💬 One quote: “We can’t say to each other, among allies, we need to spend more... and wage trade war against one another, it makes no sense,” – Emmanuel Macron, President of France
📈 One stat: NATO’s revised pledge raises defence spending from a 2% GDP target to 5% by 2035—a 150% increase.
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