**NATO Summit Statement Omitted: Ukraine’s Membership Aspirations and $40 Billion Pledge**
In a surprise move, the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague has seen a significant change in its draft statement. According to Bloomberg, the document no longer mentions Ukraine’s bid to join NATO or last year’s pledge of over $40 billion in support. This marks a first since 2022, as Russia’s war against Ukraine will not be the central focus of the annual gathering.
**A Shift in Priorities**
The usually brief statement now recognizes Russia as a threat to NATO but avoids labeling it as an aggressor in Ukraine. China is also absent from the document, a notable departure from last year’s declaration that named Beijing as a “decisive enabler” of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
**Defense Spending Takes Center Stage**
The summit’s focus has shifted to defense spending, with U.S. President Donald Trump pushing NATO partners to increase their military expenditure benchmark from 2% to 5% of GDP. The final version of the statement can still change, but it seems that this year’s gathering will prioritize economic support over Ukraine-related matters.
**Biden vs. Trump: A Divided Approach**
This shift in priorities is attributed to the differing approaches taken by former President Joe Biden and current President Donald Trump. While Biden had pledged new military aid packages to Ukraine, the Trump administration has not approved any new assistance and signaled a reduction in support for Kyiv in next year’s budget.
**What to Expect from NATO Allies**
In spite of this shift, NATO allies are expected to pledge at least 3.5% of GDP towards defense needs and 1.5% for protecting infrastructure and civil preparedness by 2032. Member states may also consider counting their contributions to Ukraine as part of the new defense spending targets.
**A Change in Tone**
This year’s summit has been preceded by rumors that President Volodymyr Zelensky would not be invited, sparking concerns among European allies. However, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte later confirmed that Zelensky had received an invitation to attend.
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