The upcoming NATO summit in The Hague will be significantly shortened to align with U.S. President Donald Trump’s preferences, according to diplomats and reports from The Times. Scheduled for July, the summit will consist of a single 2.5-hour working session, replacing the previous format of three extended meetings. The final communiqué has also been pared down to just five paragraphs—compared to the 5,400-word, 44-paragraph declaration issued last year.
The decision reflects efforts to ensure Trump’s participation and cooperation during the meeting. Officials familiar with the planning said the “short and sweet” approach was designed to prevent disruptions and allow for a smoother consensus on key defense issues.
Central to the summit’s agenda is a proposed increase in defense spending among NATO members, with a new target of 3.5% of GDP for core military budgets, in addition to 1.5% for related infrastructure investments. The alliance will also present a unified position identifying Russia as a “direct threat,” though the declaration will avoid reaffirming Ukraine’s path to NATO membership as irreversible—reportedly to avoid conflict with Trump’s stance.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is leading the coordination effort, aiming to maintain unity within the alliance while managing political sensitivities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend, but will take a reduced diplomatic role to avoid provoking backlash from the U.S. delegation.
The summit’s abbreviated format is also informed by previous diplomatic incidents, including Trump’s early exit from the G7 in 2018. Officials hope that the streamlined structure will prevent similar scenarios and reinforce commitment among allies.
