3–4 April 2025, the NATO Meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers held in Brussels, Belgium, was a two-day diplomatic gathering aimed at defining NATO’s strategic priorities, sustaining support for Ukraine, and preparing for the July Hague Summit scheduled for 2025.
Participants
The meeting was conducted at the level of foreign ministers within the framework of the North Atlantic Council, NATO’s main political decision-making body. In addition to the foreign ministers of NATO’s 32 member states, representatives from row Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand such as as NATO’s Asia-Pacific partners, as well as the European Union High Representative, attended the meeting. This was the first meeting of foreign ministers since NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte assumed office on 1 October 2024.
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib, who hosted the meeting, welcomed the attending ministers at the opening. Sessions were held at NATO headquarters; the first day consisted of four meetings attended exclusively by NATO members, while the second day featured dialogue sessions with the participation of partner countries.
Scope of the Meeting
Support for Ukraine
The top agenda item was the continuation of support for Ukraine and its institutionalization into a more structured framework. NATO aimed to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capacity in a sustainable manner; discussions focused on support programs in areas such as training, equipment provision, operational planning and together interoperability.
It was decided to prepare for the Hague Summit planned for July 2025, where this support structure would be formalized. It was also emphasized that bilateral assistance provided by NATO members to Ukraine must be coordinated in a coherent manner.
Defense Commitments and Expenditures
The meeting also addressed defense spending by allies. As of 2024, more than half of NATO members had met the target of allocating at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product to defense. Expectations were expressed that other members would also reach this goal.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, during statements made throughout the meeting, stated that NATO requires a more fair balance in burden sharing. Rubio affirmed that USA remains committed to the Alliance but stressed that European members must increase their defense expenditures to meet their obligations.
NATO’s Strategic Transformation and the Hague Summit
The peak to be held in The Hague in July 2025 coincides with NATO’s 75th anniversary. The foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels was convened to prepare for this summit. Decisions are expected at the Hague Summit regarding the Alliance’s long-term deterrence strategy, the framework for support to Ukraine, and institutional restructuring.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in his opening address, stated that the war in Ukraine is decisive not only for Europe but also for global security balances. He also emphasized that the Alliance’s union and cohesion are fundamental components of NATO’s deterrent power.
Dialogue with Asia-Pacific Partners
The second day of the meeting was dedicated to sessions with NATO’s Asia-Pacific partners. Discussions with representatives from Australia, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand covered the following topics:
- China’s growing military power and influence in the region,
- Joint measures against ongoing cyber threats,
- Strategies to counter disinformation campaigns,
- Protection of strategic infrastructure and supply chain security,
- Enhancement of joint military exercises and technology sharing.
The goal is to achieve greater close information in defense and security cooperation with these countries.
Institutional Resilience and Civil Resistance
The meeting also addressed the need to enhance institutional resilience among NATO allies. The protection of energy infrastructure, public services, communication systems, transportation networks and critical technologies was assessed. It was stressed that civil defense and crisis response plans must be harmonized among allied nations.
Approaches Toward Russia
The stance of Russia was also evaluated during the meeting. U.S. representative Senator Marco Rubio stated that Russia’s sincerity regarding a peace process will become clearer in the coming weeks and that NATO must maintain its deterrence throughout this period.
European Union High Representative Kaja Kallas stated that European countries must build a stronger defense posture in response to Russia’s rising military expenditures. Kallas noted that this would balance burden sharing within NATO and enhance Europe’s contribution to collective security.
