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Lawmakers, experts press NATO allies to raise defense spending ahead of Hague summit
Summary
At a House Subcommittee on Europe hearing, the chair and witnesses urged NATO members to increase defense budgets, debated summit targets (3.5%+1.5% proposal and calls for a 5% goal), and warned of persistent capability gaps despite recent European spending increases.
Chairman Self opened a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe hearing by emphasizing funding as the central issue for the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague and said, “The first thing we have to start with is everyone pulling their weight in NATO.”
Why it matters: NATO defense spending determines alliance readiness and deterrence in Europe. Witnesses and members framed the summit as an opportunity to translate recent spending momentum into durable capability improvements and to close longstanding shortfalls among several major NATO economies.
Panelists described the status quo and competing summit proposals. Ambassador Julianne Smith said allies…
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