Trump heads to NATO summit as his foreign policy reshapes the world
President Donald Trump heads this week to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit as American allies come to grips with the vast impact his foreign policy has already achieved from Iran's nuclear ambitions to the future of funding for European security.
The summit, which will take place in The Hague, Netherlands, will provide a platform for Trump to push for his proposed requirement that NATO's 32 member states reach 5% gross domestic product (GDP) spending on defense.
But there is one exception: the United States.
Even though he departed from this month's G7 summit early due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, Trump appears to have bold priorities for his in-person appearance with other NATO leaders.
Trump told reporters Friday night that he believes the United States has floated NATO for long enough. โI donโt think we should, but I think they should,โ Trump said about raising defense spending to 5%. โWeโve been supporting NATO so long. So I donโt think we should, but I think that the NATO countries should, absolutely."
In the wake of what has been hailed as a military success in striking Iran's three nuclear facilities, Trump will have extra momentum to pressure other nations into doing what Trump has long lobbied for, even prior to his first term in office.
Most NATO members contribute just over 2% of their GDP on defense spending. Additionally, there are a growing number of nations who have committed to reaching 3% over the next few years. Presently, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have committed to the new 5% requirement.
A new solution floated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte proposes 3.5% allocated specifically for conventional defense capabilities and an additional 1.5% directed towards broader security-related investments, including domestic infrastructure and cybersecurity.
The new solution comes on the heels of his strong agreement with Trump on defense spending.
On June 9, Rutte gave a speech at the Chatham House in London and told the room, "The fact is, we need a quantum leap in our collective defense. The fact is, we must have more forces and capabilities to implement our defense plans in full. The fact is, danger will not disappear even when the war in Ukraine ends," referencing yet another conflict involving NATO interests.
For the United States, 5% defense spending means a roughly $1.4 trillion budget for the Pentagon. The version of Trump's "One Big, Beautiful Bill" passed through reconciliation in the House of Representatives allocated $150 billion for defense spending.
The serendipitous timing of the U.S. strike on Iran, and the subsequent praise by world leaders, could clear a path for more amenable NATO partners.
Notably, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it a statement: "Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change historyโฆ History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime the world's most dangerous weapons."
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated simply, "Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon," noting that the situation in the Middle East remains volatile and urged negotiations.
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