Trump has got what he wanted at the short NATO summit, but his allies will be freed that he has committed to the fundamental principles of collective defense.
Trump lands at NATO amidst a fragile Israel and Iran ceasefire
President Donald Trump arrived at the NATO summit in the Netherlands, focusing on defense spending and a sensitive Iran-Israel ceasefire.
The Hague, June 25 (Reuters) – NATO leaders on June 25 supported the massive increase in defense spending demanded by President Donald Trump, and revised their commitment to protecting each other from attacks.
Trump got what he wanted in a short summit tailored for him, but his NATO allies are relieved that after a clearer language on June 24th, he has committed to the fundamental principles of collective defense.
In a five-point statement, NATO approved a higher defensive spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035. This is a response to the fear of not just Trump, but also Europeans that Russia is increasing the threat to safety following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
A brief communion of the 32 allies stated, “Reaffirms the iron’s round commitment to collective defense, engraved in Article 5 of the Washington Convention.
Asked to clarify his own stance in Article 5, Trump said, “I’m putting it up, so that’s why I’m here. If I hadn’t put it up, I wouldn’t be here.”
Macron will launch a trade war at NATO summit
Trump has long demanded for other countries with uncertain terms that he would strengthen defense spending to reduce NATO’s dependence on the US.
Despite the emergence of a general agreement, French President Emmanuel Macron raised the issue of sudden import duties threatened by Trump and the damages inflicted on transatlantic trade as a barrier to increased defence spending.
“You can’t come to us as an ally and ask us to spend more. Say we’ll spend more on NATO – and that’s extraordinary,” he told reporters.
NATO Executive Director Mark Latte, who held the summit in his hometown of The Hague, said NATO would appear as an alliance “stronger, fairer, more deadly.”
He previously admitted that it’s not easy for European countries and Canada to find extra money, but he said it’s essential to do so.
“I have an absolute belief with my colleagues that there is no alternative, given the international security situation, given this threat from the Russians,” the former Dutch prime minister told reporters in the Hague, his hometown city.
The new spending target to be achieved over the next decade is a jump worth hundreds of billions of dollars a year from its current target of 2% of GDP, but measurements are different.
Countries spend 3.5% of their GDP on core defenses such as military forces and weapons, with 1.5% dealing with heavy military vehicles on broader defense-related measures such as cybersecurity, pipeline protection, and road and bridge adaptation.
All NATO members support the statement that enforced the target, but declared that Spain does not have to achieve its goals and can fulfill its commitment by spending much less.
Latte accepted a diplomatic fudge with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as part of his efforts to give Trump a diplomatic victory and make the summit go smoothly, but fought for it.
Spain said on June 25 that it does not believe its stance would have an impact.
Trump meets Zelensky after the summit
Latte shortened the summit and its final statement, focusing on spending pledges to avoid friction with Trump.
Ukrainian President Voldymi Zelenki had to attend the pre-dinner dinner on June 24th, not the main meeting on June 25th.
On June 24, the Kremlin accused NATO of being on the ramp-stretched militarization path, portraying Russia as a “hell demon” to justify a massive increase in defence spending.
