From Trump’s Demand to NATO Doctrine

Why the Alliance’s 5% defense target may be more about strategic survival than symbolism

At a recent press conference, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte unveiled a new set of capability targets, proposing a 5% GDP defense investment: 3.5% for core defense and 1.5% for enabling infrastructure and industry. While framed as a response to NATO’s evolving needs, the structure closely mirrors a once-dismissed demand by Donald Trump—now reemerging as strategic necessity.

These targets, adopted every four years and divided into short- and medium-term objectives, define what NATO members must deliver to meet operational plans. But the announcement also exposed deeper tensions: how to fund these ambitions, how to support Ukraine, and how to prepare for a future where U.S. leadership may not be guaranteed.