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NATO leaders are hoping for Donald Trump’s personal presence at a key summit in The Hague on Tuesday and Wednesday. It is expected that the summit will approve an ambitious plan to increase defence spending – something Trump has been pushing for since his first term as US president.
Trump’s intention to attend the meeting was confirmed by a senior administration official, the Wall Street Journal reported. The president is due to fly to the Netherlands on Tuesday and arrive late in the evening, which is a shift from the previously scheduled date of Monday.
However, it remains uncertain whether Trump will be able to join the NATO leaders’ dinner on Tuesday. After abruptly cancelling his participation in the G7 due to the crisis in the Middle East, his schedule has changed again.
A German government spokesperson, responding to rumours of Trump’s possible absence, said: “We have no reason to believe that the US president will not come. The summit has been prepared for months. All participants have confirmed their participation.”
Less Ukraine – more strategic concessions to the US
Although Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been invited, Ukraine will not be the main topic of the summit. A meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council is also not planned, a concession to the US, which is not interested in focusing on the conflict that Trump has promised to end, according to Politico.
Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO membership are also not expected to be part of the key decisions or the final declaration. According to Deutsche Welle‘s sources, the final document will mention Russia as a threat, but without harsh wording.
Trump’s main victory: 5% for defence
Trump’s main “victory” at this summit should be the agreement of NATO countries to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP, a proposal that is controversial in the EU. The Prime Minister of the Netherlands and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has proposed dividing these costs: 3.5% for basic defence and 1.5% for infrastructure and cyber investments.
Despite Spain’s initial opposition, it agreed to an exception on Sunday, which allowed a compromise to be reached.
Former US Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker emphasised: The United States wants to see real progress. However, according to him, some European allies are trying to “dilute” the content of the initiative.
“If this is emphasised too clearly, a conflict with the US is inevitable,” Volker warned.
