As the NATO summit commenced on Wednesday, allied leaders faced the challenge of managing US President Donald Trump’s unpredictable stance, despite extensive efforts to ensure a smooth gathering.
Precautions were reportedly taken to avoid any outbursts from Trump, including crediting him for a significant new spending deal and keeping the meeting concise.
However, even before the summit began, Trump launched a pre-summit challenge by casting doubt on NATO’s fundamental Article Five clause, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
When pressed by journalists while crossing the Atlantic, Trump said, “Depends on your definition. There are numerous definitions of Article Five,” adding, “I’m committed to being their friend.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte attempted to downplay these comments as the summit opened, asserting his belief that Trump and the United States remained “totally committed” to Article Five.
Earlier, in a message likely not intended for public release but posted by Trump on social media, Rutte had heavily flattered the US president, praising him for rallying support for the defence spending increase.
“Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win,” Rutte wrote in the message.
NATO allies are expected to formally endorse a pledge to allocate 3.5 per cent of GDP to core defence spending, with an additional 1.5 per cent for broader security-related areas like cybersecurity and infrastructure.
Rutte explained that this spending boost by European nations and Canada aims to ensure they can “not only defend ourselves against the Russians and others, but also to equalise,” stressing the fairness of matching US defence spending.
He also noted Trump was in an “excellent mood” after dining with the Dutch royals and staying at their palace.
Trump has long criticised European countries for underpaying for their security, particularly since Russia’s war in Ukraine. This new spending hike is designed to keep him engaged with the alliance, as his return to power had sparked fears he might disrupt the decades-old organisation.
Spain had initially resisted the five-per-cent target, deeming it “unreasonable,” which drew Trump’s ire. En route to The Hague, Trump publicly criticised Madrid’s stance as “very unfair” and posted a graphic suggesting Spain threatened to derail the summit due to its relatively low defence spending.
While Rutte underscored the necessity of the “historic” spending hike to counter Russia, Trump’s approach to the Ukraine conflict threatens to undermine NATO unity.
The US leader has significantly altered Western policy towards Russia’s war on Kyiv, engaging directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin and maintaining a volatile relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump and Zelensky are scheduled for a one-on-one meeting in The Hague, with officials hoping to prevent a public dispute.
Unlike previous summits, Zelensky was not invited to the main leaders’ working session, which was shortened to two and a half hours, reportedly due to Trump’s preference for brevity. Rutte affirmed that allies would convey “unwavering” and persistent support for Kyiv.
However, despite Rutte’s insistence on Ukraine’s “irreversible” membership bid, NATO will avoid any mention of it, as Trump has explicitly ruled it out.
A European diplomat summed up the prevailing sentiment: “We have a completely unpredictable US president. We are hoping there won’t be an ill-timed comment that is all anyone remembers. Everything has been done to reduce this risk.”
