The Dutch government is prepared to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP, up from the existing target of 2% of GDP, Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced on Friday following a cabinet meeting.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called on Member States to allocate 3.5% of their GDP to strict military expenditure, and 1.5% to broader investments, such as cyber defence or infrastructure.
NATO members need to reach an agreement on this target at their summit in The Hague later this month.
The Netherlands intends to approve this increase in the defence budget. “We hope other countries will also agree in the coming period,” Brekelmans emphasised.
Currently, the Netherlands is barely meeting the 2% target. The new government will have to determine the source of the additional funds for defence.
Early general elections are scheduled for 29 October in the country, and Brekelmans has stated that deciding this will be “one of the major tasks” during the government’s formation.
According to Rutte’s proposal, the new 5% standard should be achieved by 2032.
