Laughing with the Lion: Trump, NATO, and the Dutch Dance
NATO honors King Trump in commemoration ceremony
The world is teetering on the brink, and it hasn't felt this precarious since the Cold War - but somehow, the summit in The Hague gives a glimmer of hope that NATO is finally recognizing the new threats looming on the horizon. And, surprisingly, it's Donald Trump, the spiritual crowning of these worrisome times, who might just be a key player in the alliance's efforts.
The Tailored Trump Show
"Morning in stunning Netherlands," Trump tweets on his favorite platform, Truth Social. A grand overnight stay at the palace, breakfast with the king and queen - "remarkable people," according to the big man - followed by a brief summit. This is Trump's kind of deal, catered to the short attention span he flaunted even during his first term. And somehow, NATO seems to have embraced this unique format. Hard to believe, but Trump even scored an overnight stay at the Dutch palace, Huis ten Bosch, home of the royal couple.
The whole intent of the summit? To stroke Trump's ego and ensure the US remains a powerful force in Europe. That's what political scientist Carlo Masala has to say on ntv. But isn't that the least they could hope for, given their own military weakness in the face of US warnings over the years? Trump happily provides his blessing: "We wholeheartedly support them," he said, looking at his fellow allies.
Politics: Pre-NATO Summit Rutte and Trump - the full press conference The US is a vital pillar of NATO, and Europe can barely manage without it. Especially when it comes to Ukraine and Russia. A little pride might be misplaced now. There's room for tough talk, negotiations, and working-level discussions. And, most importantly, even Trump's second term is temporary.
Not all Trump wants are wrong - such as the5% target
Remember when Trump wasn't even in office yet, demanding that NATO partners raise their defense spending to 5% of their GDP back in 2022? At that time, Germany was still celebrating having reached the NATO's 2% target for the first time. Germany managed to hit the 2% mark in 2024 with much fuss and bickering, counting questionable "defense spending" such as pension for NVA veterans, child benefits for military personnel, and even erasers under the category.
Flash forward to mid-2025, Trump is insistent on his initial demand. NATO and the new German government admit that the demand was agreed upon, not to please Trump, but because it's the only logical conclusion once the global situation is carefully considered.
NATO must outspend Russia in arms
If all 32 NATO members adhere to the 5% defense spending goal by 2035, roughly 1.5% of the annual economic output will go towards military infrastructure and the remaining 3.5% towards armaments, weapons purchases, and personnel costs. That translates to around 1.9 trillion dollars based on the combined economic power of NATO countries last year.
Russia, on the other hand, plans to spend around 150 billion dollars on defense this year, increasing its defense spending to about 7 to 8% of GDP. In theory, NATO's military spending is significantly more, but there are three critical factors that complicate the comparison.
Politics: "Conflict is far from over" Umbach: NATO's goal will create problems for France First, Russia is ramping up its military spending this year, whereas NATO members are planning to increase their arms spending over a decade. This implies that NATO's yearly spending will fall significantly below the 3.5% target for the next few years.
Second, Russia purchases military equipment much more affordably than Western countries. The Russian government operates a war economy, with arms production factories working around the clock, paying low wages, and producing in enormous quantities. Furthermore, the Kremlin only pays the production costs, without profits, investors, or dividends.
Third, NATO has decided that it must become collectively defensible. This isn't as simple as it sounds, considering that the armies of the 32 member states utilize a diverse range of weapons systems in all dimensions. If they are to defend themselves together in the event of an attack, they need to invest in ensuring that their weapons are compatible and can communicate with each other. The cheapest system isn't necessarily the best choice: they must prioritize sustainable, versatile, and jointly-usable equipment.
Rutte channels Trump
"Dear Donald, I applaud you and thank you for your innovative action in Iran, which was truly groundbreaking and which no one else dared to do." These sweet words don't seem like they're coming from a Trump supporter. They originated from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. They're from a private message, but Trump made them public on Truth Social.
Overeager, flattering, submissive? Or clever? It's clear that Rutte understands how to play Trump to get his attention. He even included capital letters in his message, like Trump does in his own statements: "Europe will spend money in a BIG way, as it should, and that will be your victory," he writes.
Politics: "This Will Be Your Victory" NATO Chief Rutte Praises "Beloved Donald" Exuberantly Rutte's message underscores the deep-seated fear within the alliance that the US might turn its back on them. It also demonstrates that the partners have a clearer understanding of how to deal with Trump this time around. Some recall how Trump shoved Montenegro's Prime Minister Dusko Markovic aside in 2017 to secure a front-row spot at the NATO summit.
This time, Trump is front and center. And with the increased spending, he's been handed a significant victory. Instead of questioning the alliance, Trump is overflowing with praise: "remarkable" was the summit, an "extraordinary success". The Secretary-General likely played a substantial role in that.
- Wolodymyr Selenskyj
- Donald Trump
- Vladimir Putin
- Mark Rutte
- NATO
- NATO's 2-Percent Goal
- The Hague
- Arms
- Arms Industry
The European Union, with its commitment to the development of a common defence policy, finds itself aligning strategies with the speech and actions of Donald Trump, as seen in the recent NATO summit in The Hague, where politics and general news intertwined. Mark Rutte, the NATO Secretary-General, even channels Trump's rhetoric, affirming that increased military spending will be a significant victory for the former US president.
