President Donald Trump’s latest NATO-related remarks are a wake-up call for alliance freeloaders. On Tuesday, he dodged a clear commitment to Article 5’s mutual defense pact, telling reporters, “Depends on your definition,” as the Associated Press reports. Classic Trump: keeping allies guessing while demanding they pay up.
Before jetting to the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Trump questioned U.S. obligations under Article 5, pushed for a 5% GDP defense spending target, and bragged about past pressure that forced NATO members to cough up more cash. His comments echo a 2016 campaign quip where he hinted at ignoring Article 5 and a 2024 rally where he egged on Russia against stingy allies. This summit’s shaping up as another Trump showdown.
Trump’s history with NATO is a rollercoaster of blunt talk and bold moves. In 2017, he shoved past Montenegro’s prime minister like a linebacker at a photo op. By 2018, he was demanding a 4% GDP defense spending goal, calling out allies for leaning too hard on Uncle Sam’s wallet.
On Tuesday, Trump doubled down, urging NATO nations to hit 5% of GDP, with 3.5% for tanks and jets and 1.5% for infrastructure like roads. “It gives them much more power,” he said, framing it as a strength booster. Yet, with the U.S. at 3.4% in 2024, his call feels like a pointed jab at allies’ checkbooks.
Most NATO countries, except Spain, are ready to back the 5% pledge, spooked by Russia’s Ukraine invasion and eager to keep Trump onside. France, though, frets over U.S. troop cuts in Europe and a pivot to the Indo-Pacific. Trump’s “tougher style” gets results, says Atlantic Council’s Matthew Kroenig, but it’s got Europe sweating.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s private note to Trump, leaked on Truth Social, was pure flattery. “You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done,” Rutte wrote, predicting Europe will “pay in a BIG way.” Sounds like Rutte’s buttering up the boss, hoping to avoid a NATO exit scare.
Trump is not just stirring the pot on spending. His recent strike on Iran’s nuclear sites and a shaky Israel-Iran ceasefire announcement set a tense backdrop for the summit. Allies are on edge, wondering if he’ll honor Article 5 or leave them hanging.
“There’s numerous definitions of Article 5,” Trump mused, adding, “I’m committed to being their friends.” Friends don’t dodge defense pacts, Mr. President. His vagueness fuels fears of a U.S. pullout, as Kroenig notes: “There are still a lot of worries in Europe.”
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s top Democrat, isn’t buying Trump’s posture. “That does not help America, does not help our national security,” she said, slamming his divisive tactics. She’s got a point, but her party’s soft-on-defense record doesn’t exactly scream credibility.
Shaheen’s attending the summit, where Trump’s set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. With Russia’s shadow looming, Zelenskyy’s likely praying Trump doesn’t waver on NATO’s core promise. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
Meanwhile, The Hague saw hundreds protest on Sunday, railing against defense spending and Middle East chaos. Their signs might as well read “Trump’s Fault,” but NATO’s budget woes predate his arrival. Still, his rhetoric is fanning the flames.
Trump will be crashing at Huis Ten Bosch palace, Dutch King Willem-Alexander’s digs, on Tuesday night. Royal surroundings suit him, but his “king of NATO” vibe rankles allies. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ambassador Matt Whitaker keep preaching U.S. commitment, but Trump is the one calling the shots.
“NATO was broke, and I said, ‘You’re going to have to pay,’” Trump boasted, claiming credit for allies’ spending hikes. He’s not wrong—his arm-twisting worked. But sowing doubt about Article 5 risks unraveling the alliance’s backbone.
Shaheen warns that Trump’s game hand “a victory to our adversaries.” She’s half-right: China’s watching, but so are NATO’s deadbeat members who need to step up. Trump’s forcing the issue, even if his style is akin to a diplomatic wrecking ball.
At the summit, Trump is “committed to life and safety,” he says, but his Article 5 dodge speaks louder. Allies deserve clarity, not coy wordplay. If he wants NATO to be strong, he’ll need to back the pact that’s kept the West safe for decades.
