All Eyes on Trump as NATO Summit Kicks Off in The Hague

NATO leaders gather in The Hague today under unprecedented security. But behind the formal statements and short agenda lies one unspoken truth: this summit is all about Donald Trump.

Trump Sets the Tone

The summit’s design — brief discussions and minimal statements — reflects Trump’s influence and preference for control.

Rutte’s Diplomatic Balancing Act

New NATO chief Mark Rutte worked behind the scenes to secure a spending deal that avoids a direct clash with Trump.

Defense Spending in the Spotlight

Some European nations are already boosting their defence spending to 5% of their GDP. Most struggle to meet even the older 2% target.

Creative Accounting or Real Commitments?

NATO may allow nations to count infrastructure and industry as defense spending — a blurry line that raises concerns.

Eastern Allies Embrace the Pressure

Countries near Russia, like Poland and Estonia, are leading the charge on higher spending — with or without US pressure.

Western Skepticism Grows

While France is ramping their spending, leaders in Spain and the UK warn that sharp increases in defense budgets could be counterproductive or politically unfeasible.

Russia Strategy Goes Missing

Though Russia looms large, leaders have quietly dropped plans to update NATO’s strategy — a concession to avoid confronting Trump.

Ukraine Sidelined

Volodymyr Zelensky will attend dinner but not the main talks, highlighting internal rifts over how central Ukraine should be to NATO strategy.

Security at a Historic High

Dutch authorities are overseeing NATO’s most expensive summit yet, with an unprecedented €183 million security operation.

A Show of Unity — or a Papered-Over Divide?

Behind the summit’s unity message, NATO’s biggest challenge may be staying aligned while its most powerful member rewrites the rules.