Image source, PA

Starmer is now being quizzed by reporters.

Sky News' Beth Rigby asks the prime minister about the lack of condemnation of Russia's war in Nato's newly-released final declaration.

Starmer says the position of Nato has not changed, nor his own.

He says there has in fact been a real resolve that now is the time to push again to get Putin to the table to negotiate an unconditional ceasefire.

Starmer says the UK is going further in response to a growing nuclear threat, stating that new F35A aircraft the UK is committing to buy will be nuclear weapons if necessary.

He says the announcement represents "the biggest strengthening of our deterrence posture in a generation", and will create 20,000 new jobs across the UK.

"Our commitment to Nato is unshakable, and so is our determination that greater security for the UK must go hand in hand with better lives for working people," Starmer says.

Starmer moves on to set out some of the commitments made to Ukraine.

He says the UK has this week announced that it will provide "hundreds more defence missiles" to protect Ukraine.

This will be paid for with money from frozen Russian assets, instead of by the British taxpayer, he says.

Starmer says this investment can also benefit the UK by becoming a "job-creating machine", and explains that the country is committing to buying new F35A jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons - we have more on this in our news story.

"It marks the return of the RAF to nuclear deterrence for three decades," Starmer announces. "Our commitment to Nato is unshakeable."

Starmer says Nato members have agreed a package to make Nato stronger than ever with new defence spending commitments.

We are raising defence and security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, making Nato "stronger, fairer and more lethal than ever," he says during a news conference at The Hague.

This includes protecting our cyber security and energy networks, he says.

He adds that UK defence and security spending will reach at least 4.1% of GDP by 2027, "keeping the British people safe and strengthening our leadership in Nato".

• Starmer's 4.1% figure relates to defence and "defence-related" spending - on defence spending alone, the government has plans to hit 2.5% of GDP by April 2027 and a "clear ambition" to reach 3% by 2034

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also currently speaking at a news conference at the Nato summit.

He begins by addressing the conflict in the Middle East, where he says the West should seize the opportunity presented by the ceasefire to stabilise the region and get Iran back around the negotiating table with the US.

This, the PM explains, is how Nato will ensure a "complete, verifiable and irreversible end" to Iran's nuclear programme.

To facilitate this, Starmer says he is in contact with leaders in the region, and has spoken to the Emir of Qatar after Iran targeted a US base in the country.

Stick with us as we bring you more of the top lines.

You can watch live at the top of the page by pressing Play.

Laura Gozzi
Europe reporter

Following Nato member states' announcement that they will spend 5% of their GDP on defence and security, let's take a look at what else is in their final declaration, external:

• They reaffirm their “ironclad commitment to collective defence as enshrined in Article 5... that an attack on one is an attack on all”
• They mention the “long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security”
• They commit to spending 5% of GDP annually on defence and security in the next ten years. This will be made up of 3.5% of GDP on core defence annually – and 1.5% of GDP on other defence-related endeavours – including protecting critical infrastructure, defending our networks, ensuring our civil preparedness and resilience, and unleashing innovation
• Plans to reach that figure will have to be submitted annually and will have to follow a “credible, incremental path”. A review will take place in 2029
• There is no mention of Russian aggression of Ukraine. In last year’s declaration that was mentioned several times
• This year’s statement is also notable for its brevity: only five paragraphs versus last year’s 38

Ukraine has our continued support, Rutte says.

We pledged over €35bn (£29.8) this year and there is more to follow, he says.

"We stand by Ukraine in its pursuit of peace" and the path to Nato membership.

"We want to keep Ukraine in the fight today," he adds.

Rutte starts his speech by laying out what the 5% pledge will be spent on.

He explains the 3.5% of it will go on "core defences" to fund Nato militaries and the equipment they need, as well as 1.5% to be spent on investment to support security.

"All allies are united in understanding we need to step up to stay safe," Rutte says.

He goes on to say that President Donald Trump has been clear that the US is "committed to Nato", but requires European members and Canada to "do more of the heavy lifting" for the military alliance.

Mark Rutte is now speaking at a news conference at the Nato summit in The Hague.

Stay with us as we bring you the top lines.

You can watch it live by clicking Play at the top of this page.

What makes up the 5% in defence spending?published at 13:36 British Summer Time

13:36 BST

Laura Gozzi
Europe reporter

Mark Rutte has spent much of the nine months since becoming Nato secretary general working to get allies to commit to the 5% target. The figure is more than double Nato members' current 2% guideline and seemed unthinkable – and unrealistic – to most when President Trump first set it in January.

Now allies have committed to that figure.

But that 5% is made up by two separate elements: 3.5% of GDP to be spent on core defence with an additional 1.5% towards "defence-related expenditure." That expression is suitably broad and will allow allies some "creativity" in terms of coming up with 1.5% expenditure. The declaration says the 1.5% can be used to "protect our critical infrastructure, defend our networks, ensure our civil preparedness and resilience, unleash innovation, and strengthen our defence industrial base".

In any case, reaching the 3.5% core defence spending target will still require a significant adjustment for the majority of Nato countries. Out of 32 allies, 27 spend under 3%, with eight hovering well below the 2% threshold set by the alliance in 2014.

Nato's 32 member states have agreed to spend 5% of their GDP on defence and security by 2035, following months of pressure by US President Donald Trump.

"Allies commit to invest five percent of GDP annually on core defence requirements as well as defence- and security-related spending by 2035," the 32 countries say in a joint statement from the summit in The Hague.

Article 5 of the Nato treaty states that members will come to the defence of an ally that comes under attack, and each member would take "such action as it deems necessary" should such a situation arise

It's designed to deter any potential adversaries from launching attacks on any one country in the alliance.

The clause has been the bedrock of Nato since its formation in 1949.

Article 5 also guarantees that the resources of all countries in Nato can be used to protect any single member nation.

Since the US is the largest and most powerful Nato member, it has long been the anchoring power.

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Tuesday that Trump was "absolutely committed" to upholding Article 5, after the US president said earlier that there are "numerous definitions" of the clause.

Trump's Article 5 comments won't have gone unnoticed by Natopublished at 13:11 British Summer Time

13:11 BST

Laura Gozzi
Europe reporter

On Tuesday, as he was on his way to The Hague, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that there were “numerous definitions” of Nato’s Article 5. “I’m committed to being their friends. I’m going to give you an exact definition when I get there,” he said.

The comments won’t have gone unnoticed by Nato members. Nato’s Article 5 commits all members to come to the defence of each other if attacked - and if such a situation were to arise, it says each member would take "such action as it deems necessary"

Ever since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 European countries who have felt nervous about Moscow widening its ambitions to the rest of the continent have taken solace in the fact that any attack would trigger Article 5 – including a powerful American response.

So any hint that the US may be questioning the “definition” of Article 5 can spark real nervousness among Nato members.

The first six months of Trump’s presidency have shown he is vehemently critical of the United States’ commitment to the defence of the world’s democracies – so while he hasn’t suggested reneging on the mutual defence clause, it will certainly be interesting to hear what his “exact definition” of Article 5 is.

At the summit a short while ago, Nato chief Mark Rutte referred to US President Donald Trump as "daddy" while commending his handling of the Iran-Israel conflict.

Speaking about Iran and Israel, Trump said: "They're not going to be fighting each other. They've had it. They've had a big fight, like two kids in a schoolyard."

"They fight like hell. You can't stop them. Let them fight for about two, three minutes. Then it's easier to stop them," he said.

Referencing Trump's use of an expletive on Tuesday when referring to Iran and Israel, Rutte said: "And then daddy has to sometimes use strong language.

Trump added: "You have to use strong language, every once in a while, you have to use a certain word."

You can follow more on the Iran-Israel conflict and how it's being discussed at Nato's summit here.

Image source, Reuters

Opening the meeting of the North Atlantic Council - the principal political decision-making body within NATO -earlier, Nato chief Mark Rutte said the alliance's leaders met at a "dangerous moment", listing war in the Middle East, a "persistent challenge" from terrorism and other security threats.

"Our joint commitment to Article 5, that an attack on one is an attack on all, sends a powerful message," Rutte said.

But he added that "for too long", the US had "carried too much of the burden of that commitment".

Confirming the alliance's "concrete plan" to spend 5% of GDP in defence, he praised US President Donald Trump, saying: "You made this change possible."

Image source, Reuters

The second day of the Nato summit in The Hague is under way.

Here's a rundown of Tuesday's agenda:

• 13:15: Sir Keir Starmer expected to give press conference
• 13:45: Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte will give his general press conference
• 14:00: US President Donald Trump to hold press conference
• 14:30: Meeting between Rutte and Indio-Pacific leaders
• 15:30: Meeting between the secretary general, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and leaders of E5 countries (France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom)

Image source, PA Media

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to meet the Nato target of spending 5% of GDP on national security by 2035.

Ahead of the alliance's summit, Starmer said the UK must "navigate this era of radical uncertainty".

And the government has warned that the UK must "actively prepare for the possibility" of "coming under direct threat, potentially in a wartime scenario".

Thirty-two member countries, including the UK, are expected to agree the 5% goal at the summit today.

Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and Trump's re-election as US president last year, members of the organisation have faced increased pressure to boost their defence spending.

Countries had been expected to spend at least 2% of their national income - or GDP - on defence, although last year, only 23 hit that target - an increase from three in 2014.

Ahead of today's summit, US President Donald Trump has made comments appearing to cast doubt on the US's commitment to Nato's Article 5.

The article states that an armed attack against one member constitutes an attack against all - and if such a situation were to arise, each member would take "such action as it deems necessary".

Speaking to reporters on his flight to the summit on Tuesday, Trump said: “Depends on your definition. There are numerous definitions of Article Five. You know that, right? But I’m committed to being their friends."

"I’m committed to life and safety. And I’m going to give you an exact definition when I get there.”

Asked about Trump's remarks today, Nato chief Mark Rutte said "there is absolute clarity the United States is totally committed to Nato, totally committed to Article Five".

And later, while meeting Rutte and pressed about Article 5, Trump said: "We're with them all the way."

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Haiyun Jiang-Pool/Getty Images

Good afternoon and welcome as we launch our coverage of the Nato summit in The Hague, where we're expecting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to speak in the next 45 minutes or so.

The meeting of world leaders comes at a time of heightened tension as the world waits to see how the conflict between Israel and Iran develops - and what US President Donald Trump will do next.

On his way to the summit, Trump, who is attending for the first time since 2019, called into doubt the alliance's mutual defence agreement and the military contributions made by other member nations.

But today members of the alliance could send a strong message to their US ally and the rest of the world as we expect them to commit to spending 5% of national output on defence and related infrastructure.

The meeting will also serve as background for the next meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump as the war rages on in Ukraine.

In addition to Starmer, we're also expecting to hear from Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte and President Trump.

We'll be monitoring the summit in The Hague so stick with us as we bring you the latest developments.