As NATO leaders gather in The Hague, the biggest uncertainty remains whether US President Donald Trump will cooperate—or once again disrupt proceedings, as he has in previous summits.
Leaders hope a tightly planned, praise-filled meeting—short in duration and carefully designed—will keep Trump engaged and cooperative when formal discussions begin Wednesday.
Rutte Sends Praise as Trump Crosses the Atlantic
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte went out of his way to praise Trump ahead of the summit. On Tuesday, he messaged the US President: “You are flying into another big success.”
Trump eagerly reposted that message online while flying aboard Air Force One. Rutte also praised Trump’s military moves against Iran, saying: “Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action in Iran, that was truly extraordinary, and something no one else dared to do.”
Such flattering messages underscore how committed NATO leaders are to preventing any disruptions from Trump and ensuring the summit goes smoothly.
Efforts Underway to Prevent Trump Outburst
Officials have taken several precautions to prevent any outbursts from Trump during the summit. One major move includes crediting him for pushing through a new defence spending agreement.
Still, tensions escalated even before Trump landed in Europe. When asked about NATO’s collective defence clause—Article 5—Trump responded, “Depends on your definition,” unsettling many allies just hours before a pre-summit dinner.
NATO to Approve Major Defence Spending Plan
The defence plan expected to be approved during the summit includes spending 3.5% of GDP on defence and an extra 1.5% on wider security areas like cybersecurity.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the plan “historic.”
Trump Targets Spain Over Spending, Leans Towards Russia
The new defence targets aim to keep Trump aligned with NATO, especially as he continues to criticise European nations for underfunding their militaries.
Spain was the final country to accept the 5% spending goal, previously calling it “unreasonable,” which prompted Trump to lash out.
He reminded everyone that the US spends nearly $1 trillion on defence, while Spain is just now meeting the older 2% target after a €10 billion boost.
“We’ll be discussing it soon,” Trump warned.
Concerns Grow Over Trump’s Russia, Ukraine Views
While Rutte emphasised that increased military spending is key to deterring Russia, Trump’s changing tone on Ukraine remains a concern.
He has previously softened his stance on Russia and clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky Excluded From Main Session
Ahead of the summit, Zelensky addressed Dutch lawmakers, stating: “Russia must see that Ukraine won’t be left alone.”
However, he has not been invited to NATO’s main summit session—shortened to just two and a half hours, reportedly to accommodate Trump’s dislike for long meetings. A private Trump-Zelensky meeting is expected.
No Talk of Ukraine’s NATO Membership
Rutte confirmed that NATO’s support for Ukraine remains strong. However, the alliance will not discuss Ukraine’s bid for membership, following Trump’s firm rejection of the idea.