NATO leaders have agreed to move toward spending 5% of gross domestic product on defense by 2035, marking a major shift in alliance policy after sustained pressure from Washington. The pledge is designed to push European members to take on a larger share of NATO’s security costs.

The decision reflects growing concerns inside the alliance about burden-sharing, military readiness, and the long-term demands of deterring threats in Europe. It also underscores the U.S. push to keep Europe investing more heavily in its own defense capabilities.

While the target is not immediate, the agreement sets a political benchmark for member states over the next decade. Governments will now face domestic debate over how to fund higher military budgets alongside health care, housing, inflation, and other public priorities.

For NATO, the move signals a more assertive approach to collective defense at a time of heightened security risks. For European capitals, it raises a familiar question: how to balance sovereignty, social spending, and the cost of preparing for a more dangerous world.