NATO leaders on Wednesday (June 25) backed the big increase in defence spending that U.S. President Donald Trump had demanded, and restated their commitment to defend each other from attack.

Secretary General Mark Rutte said Trump deserved "all the praise" for getting members to ramp up spending to 5% of their GDP.

Countries would spend 3.5% of GDP on core defence - such as troops and weapons - and 1.5% on broader defensc-related measures such as cyber security, protecting pipelines and adapting roads and bridges to handle heavy military vehicles.

Rutte said the agreement would mean a "quantum leap" for the alliance's collective defence. Rutte added that he thought Spain was serious about the defence spending target after Spanish leaders said they did not expect their country to face repercussions from a decision not to meet a defence spending target of 5% of gross domestic product.

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NATO's Rutte says Trump deserves all the praise for higher spending agreement

VIDEO SHOWS: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SPEAKING AT PRESS CONFERENCE

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SHOWS: THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (JUNE 25, 2025) (NATO - Access All)

1. VARIOUS OF NATO SECRETARY GENERAL MARK RUTTE ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"Together, Allies have laid the foundations for a stronger, fairer, and more lethal NATO. NATO leaders agreed on the Hague Defence Investment Plan. And this will fuel a quantum leap in our collective defence. They agreed to boost our defence industries, which will not only increase our security, but will also create jobs. And we have reaffirmed our unwavering support for Ukraine."

3. RUTTE SPEAKING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"With this plan, Allies have agreed to invest 5% of GDP in defence. This is a significant commitment in response to significant threats to our security. It includes at least 3.5% of GDP invested in core defence requirements, A benchmark that until today was set at 2%. A target that I'm pleased to say all Allies will now meet this year or have already met. The 3.5% is to fund our militaries and the equipment they need for our air defence, ammunition, drones, tanks, troops, and more. In addition to the 3.5% for core defence, The plan includes 1.5% of GDP that will go towards investments that support our defence and security."

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"President Trump has been clear. America is committed to NATO. He affirmed that again today in no uncertain terms. At the same time, he made clear that America expects European allies and Canada to contribute more. And that is exactly what we see them doing. European allies and Canada will do more of the heavy lifting, equalizing their spending and taking greater responsibility for our shared security."

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING: (STARTS OVER MID SHOT OF RUTTE)

"Of course, this is also an alliance that stands firmly by our neighbour and partner, Ukraine. My dear friend Volodymyr Zelenskiy is here in The Hague with us at the NATO Summit, along with his team. Our resounding message to him and the Ukrainian people is that Ukraine has our continued support."

7. RUTTE SPEAKING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"The resolve of Allies is clear. We are in this together, committed to Article 5. And we are determined to stand firm. No one should doubt our capacity or determination should our security be challenged. This is the stronger, fairer, and more lethal Alliance that NATO leaders have begun to build." (ENDS OVER SIDE VIEW OF RUTTE)

8. RUTTE LISTENING TO QUESTION

9. REPORTER ASKING QUESTION

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING: (CONTINUES OVER SHOT OF AUDIENCE)

"But I think he's a good friend. And when he is doing stuff which is forcing us to, for example, when it comes to making more investments, I mean, would you ever think that this would be the result of this summit if he would not have been re-elected President? Do you really think that seven or eight countries who said, yes, somewhere in the 2030s, we might meet the 2%? We've now all decided in the last four or five months to get to 2%. So doesn't he deserve some praise? And when it comes to Iran, the fact that he took this decisive action, very targeted, to make sure that Iran would not be able to get its hands on a nuclear capability, I think he deserves all the praise."

11. RUTTE LISTENING TO QUESTION FROM MEDIA

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING: (CONTINUES OVER SHOT OF REPORTER LISTENING)

"And I think what President Trump did here is take a very targeted surgical operation to take out as much as possible Iran's capability to get to a nuclear weapon. And I commend him for that. And obviously it's now up to all the studies being done and all the details looked into what exactly has been the effect of this, but I'm personally very optimistic that this has dealt a massive blow to Iran."

13. REPORTER ASKING QUESTION

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, ASKED WHETHER SPAIN WOULD TAKE 5% SPENDING GOAL SERIOUSLY) SAYING: (STARTS OVER WIDE SHOT OF RUTTE)

"On the last question, I believe so. As you know, there is disagreement to disagree that they think they can reach the capability targets by 2.1%. NATO is saying it has to be 3.5%, like for all the other allies."

15. RUTTE SPEAKING