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NATO summit grapples with Trump, defense spending push - and Iran

The summit was dominated by U.S. President Donald Trump's first appearance at the world's largest alliance since 2019.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, at left, speaks to reporters at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, at left, speaks to reporters at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague. (AN/NATO)

NATO agreed on a plan to accelerate defense-related industrial capacity and production at a two-day summit in The Hague focused on raising military spending to at least 5% of GDP.

Leaders were expected to agree to the 5% pledge on Wednesday, but U.S. President Donald Trump – who pushed for it — insisted the United States should be exempt and Spain said it had a deal to be excluded.

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