NATO leaders have arrived in The Hague for a summit described as historic, with a central aim of bolstering European security for the future.
The gathering marks US President Donald Trump’s first NATO summit since 2019. A key focus is expected to be a commitment from all 32 member states to increase their spending on defence and related infrastructure to 5% of their national output.
Prior to the summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sent a message to President Trump, praising his leadership of the Western alliance and his approach to the conflict in Iran. In a message shared by Mr Trump on social media, Mr Rutte congratulated him on securing the 5% spending commitment and lauded his “decisive action in Iran,” calling it “truly extraordinary.”
Mr Rutte later told the BBC that he saw “absolutely no problem” with his private message being made public, stating there was “nothing in it that had to stay secret.”
The two-day summit has reportedly been shortened, likely to accommodate President Trump’s schedule. Western leaders have had to carefully manage their relationships with Mr Trump, who is known for his often unpredictable diplomatic style.
The NATO Secretary General had earlier urged European allies to focus on investing in their own defence and supporting Ukraine, reassuring them of the US’s “total commitment” to the alliance, contingent on other members meeting increased spending expectations. Mr Rutte noted that European allies and Canada had already pledged over $35 billion in military aid to Ukraine this year.
The summit takes place against the backdrop of continued Russian aggression in Ukraine. Twenty people were reported killed in Russian attacks on Ukraine on Tuesday. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that all attempts to bring Russia to the negotiating table have so far been unsuccessful. Missile attacks on the eastern city of Dnipro and the nearby town of Samar resulted in multiple casualties, including children. An earlier missile strike on Sumy in the north-east also caused fatalities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in The Hague and is scheduled to meet with President Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit. Relations between the two leaders have been complex, with a reportedly difficult meeting at the White House in February preceding a more constructive interaction at Pope Francis’s funeral in April.
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