Published on: June 25, 2025 / update from: June 25, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
NATO summit in the Hague | "Europe is going to pay": Trump embarrasses NATO boss with private SMS-what can happen today? - Image: Xpert.digital
NATO summit 2025: How Trump drives European allies into the tightness
The Hague under tension: Trump demands more money from European NATO partners
The NATO summit in Den Haag on June 24th and 25th, 2025 is completely dedicated to US President Donald Trump and his pressure on European allies. The summit was planned strategically to court Trump and avoid greater conflicts while at the same time enforcing his central demands.
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- NATO summit in the Haag on June 24th and 25th, 2025: Tensions about defense spending and Trump fears
Shortened agenda and tailor -made diplomacy
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte deliberately designed the summit as a "Donald Trump summit" to keep the US president happy. The agenda was reduced to the minimum: just one working session of two and a half hours on Wednesday, while NATO summits usually take significantly longer. This shortening should prevent Trump from tearing off early-as at the last G7 meeting.
Trump received royal treatment during the summit by staying as a guest of the Dutch royal couple in Huis Ten Bosch Castle, where the British Queen Elizabeth II and Bill Clinton had already stayed. Dinner at the Dutch king on Tuesday evening was also part of the strategy to caress Trump.
The 5 percent goal as Trump's main success
The central point of the summit was the agreement to a massive increase in defense expenditure from two to five percent of gross domestic product until 2035. At least 3.5 percent should be used for classic military spending, while 1.5 percent can be counted for defense -relevant infrastructure such as tank -compatible bridges, railway lines and ports.
Trump had already made it clear before the summit that this new output goal should not apply to the United States, which has already issued 3.5 percent of its GDP for defense. "I think you should do that. I don't think we should," said Trump and justified this that Washington "borne almost 100 percent of the costs".
Spain as a disruptive factor and Trump's criticism
A special dispute developed in Spain, whose Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez described the 5 percent goal as "unreasonable" and incompatible with the welfare state. Trump sharply criticized Spain and described his attitude as "unfair" to the other NATO partners. On his flight to the Hague, Trump posted a graphic of defense spending in which Spain ranked at the bottom.
Ultimately, a solution could be found: NATO Secretary General Rutte assured Spain in writing that the country did not have to reach the 5 percent goal if the required military skills could also provide less money. In addition, a review of the target was agreed for 2029.
Publication of private SMS and self -staging
Trump's publication of a private SMS by NATO General Secretary Rutte on Truth on truth social was particularly remarkable. In the news, Rutte wrote: "Donald, you really brought us to a very, very important moment for America, Europe and the world. You will achieve what has not made a US president for decades". The SMS ended with the words in capital letters: "Europe is going to pay in a big way, as they should, and it will be your win".
This publication underlined Trump's position of power and showed how NATO leadership was ready to court him in order to secure his support for the alliance.
Doubts to Article 5 and NATO obligation
Despite all the efforts to appeal, Trump continued to sow doubts about the American obligation to assist the NATO contract. On his flight to the Haag, he questioned whether he felt tied to Article 5 and said: "It depends on how to define Article 5". These statements reinforced the uncertainty about how strongly NATO the USA will remain committed.
Ukraine pushed to the edge
Another aspect of Trump's pressure was the marginalization of Ukraine. Unlike earlier NATO peaks, Ukraine only played a supporting role. In the case of Trump's pressure, the final declaration of the conclusion was not accepted for Ukraine, and new arms deliveries or financial commitments were not decided. The Ukrainian President Selenskyj was not invited to the actual working sessions on Wednesday.
Successful demonstration of power
Ultimately, the summit can be seen as a successful demonstration of power Trump. He reached his main goal-the increase in European defense spending-while he forced NATO partners to bow to his will. The “big Trump appeasement show” in the Haag clearly showed that the European allies were willing to make considerable concessions in order to keep the United States in the alliance.
The summit marked a turning point in NATO history, in which the traditional partnership was replaced by a ratio in which Trump dictated the conditions and the Europeans submitted to them so as not to lose the American security guarantee.
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