NATO allies agree to hike defence spending, reaffirm collective defence

THE HAGUE, June 25 (Reuters) - NATO allies on Wednesday pledged to increase their annual defence spending to a total of 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035 and reaffirmed their commitment to collective defence, stating that "an attack on one is an attack on all."

In the declaration of their summit in The Hague, NATO leaders said the defence pledge would consist of investments of at least 3.5% of GDP per year in core defence requirements.

They also vowed to spend up to 1.5% of GDP on security-related expenditures including protection of critical infrastructure and strengthening the alliance's defence industrial base.

These investments were needed to face "profound security threats", the leaders said, citing in particular the "long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security and the persistent threat of terrorism."

Progress on the elevated spending targets, up from the current goal of 2% of GDP, will be reviewed in 2029.

Allies reaffirmed their "enduring sovereign commitments" to support Ukraine, but left out references to Ukraine's possible future membership of the alliance, that had been included in some previous summit declarations.