In a landmark declaration at The Hague summit, NATO’s 32 member nations have collectively agreed to raise their annual defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, signalling the most ambitious military commitment in the alliance’s post–Cold War history. The decision reflects mounting security

India’s Defence Secretary, Rajesh Kumar Singh, has downplayed concerns over budget limitations, asserting that the primary obstacle to enhancing military readiness is the slow pace of procurement—not the total amount allocated. His comments come amid growing pressure to raise defence spending to 4% of GDP, up from the current ~2%. “Our challenge isn’t budget quantum but