The NATO leaders’ meeting, the Western Military Alliance on Wednesday (25), in the Netherlands, provided US President Donald Trump a great victory by achieving the group to increase their defense spending goals.
But the comments Trump made during the flight to the conference raised new concerns about their commitment to the fundamental principle of the covenant: collective defense.
The divided dynamic, with leaders adapting the meeting to attract Trump, even when he questions the essential condition of the block’s member, created a tense atmosphere at the beginning of the Hague conference.
Still, Trump promised to support NATO’s other countries a day after having limited himself to supporting the pact of Article 5 of the Alliance, which says an attack on a member is an attack on all.
“We are with them to the end. If you look at the numbers, we are with them,” said the president.
He called the promise that he would be signed on Wednesday by NATO countries to increase his spending on defense of “great news.”
“NATO will become very strong with us,” he said.
Trump participated in the only session of the summit before meeting with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky and grant a press conference.
The trip to the Netherlands was quick and planned especially by NATO leaders to maintain Trump’s attention and ensure that he had no time to put the intended demonstration of unity apart.
The central result of the meeting – – is exactly what Trump has been demanding in recent years.
The final statement in which the spending goal was confirmed was drastically shortened, omitting any controversial language that could generate resistance from the United States.
And although Ukraine and its president are still on the agenda, than in previous NATO dome, a sign of emerging differences between Europe and the United States on how to resolve the conflict.
Military Alliance Chief Mark Rutte, whose relationship with Trump dates back to his years as Dutch Prime Minister, and made a point of giving Trump credit for it in a private message.
Subsequently, the American leader published the message on social networks.
“You’ll get something no US president has achieved in decades. Europe will pay on a large scale, as it should, and it will be your victory,” Rutte wrote, before wishing the US President a safe trip to the Netherlands.
The flattering tone caused a certain strangeness among European authorities, but Rutte denied any discomfort when a reporter asked if the episode was not a bit embarrassing.
And Rutte used even more evocative language at the end of the day, after the US president compared Israel and Iran “two children in the courtyard of a school.”
It turns out that Trump did not need to be present at NATO’s meeting to raise new concerns about his commitment to the covenant, which he did not hesitate to criticize in the past.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, the US presidential plane, Trump did not offer full support to the fundamental commitment of the alliance, Article 5 of collective defense.
“It depends on your definition. There are numerous definitions for article 5,” Trump said when asked about his commitment to the article, before adding, “I am committed to being a friend and helping them.”
It was not exactly the demonstration of support that many European leaders expected, although few authorities expressed surprise with Trump’s comments as the summit began.
In turn, Rutte said she was not concerned about Trump’s commitment to NATO.
