NATO leaders convened in The Hague on Wednesday in a meeting designed specifically for US President Donald Trump. European allies hope that Trump’s vow to increase defence expenditures will persuade Him to allay concerns about his loyalty to the alliance.
In response to Trump’s demand and Europeans’ concerns that Russia is posing a more direct danger to their security in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the summit is anticipated to support a greater defence budget target of 5% of GDP. Although it was difficult for nations to find the funds for further defence spending, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that they needed to do so. NATO officials hope the meeting, which Rutte hosted in his hometown, won’t be overshadowed by the Israeli-Iranian conflict and the US attack of Iranian nuclear targets over the weekend.
On his approach to the meeting, Trump cast doubt on his commitment by not publicly backing the alliance’s Article 5 mutual defence guarantee, and he threatened to withhold protection from NATO members if they did not achieve expenditure commitments.
There are “numerous definitions” of the provision, he told reporters on Air Force One. “I’m dedicated to preserving life. Life and safety are important to me. And when I get there, I’ll give you a precise definition,” he continued.
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