Trump in Amsterdam: NATO Summit Begins in The Hague

The heads of state and government of the 32 NATO countries meet for the summit in the Hague, but everything is only about one: US President Donald Trump enforced a fire break between Israel and Iran immediately before his departure to Europe. On Wednesday, he wants to decide the greatest upgrade with the Allies since the end of the Cold War.

By 2035, defense expenditure is to be increased to five percent of gross domestic product (GDP). The target brand is currently two percent. In the future, at least 3.5 percent of GDP will be due to classic military spending. In addition, investments in combating terrorism or infrastructure can be used in militarily usable infrastructure.

As a guest of the Dutch royal couple, the US President lives during the two-day summit in the Hague in Huis Ten Bosch Castle. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) represents Germany in the round. At the meeting he wants to show that Germany is willing to assume more responsibility in the alliance. “Germany is back on the European and the international stage,” he said.

NATO Secretary General Rutte to Trump: “Your victory”

Trump received a special welcome – and he published this personal message on the way out on the truth social portal. According to the screenshot, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte promised him a “great success” in a personal text message.

Rutte literally wrote: “It was not easy, but we all made them sign the 5 percent commitment! Donald, you led us to a really, really important moment for America, Europe and the world.”

In the Trump style with capital letters, Rutte added: “Europe is going to pay in a big way, as they should, and it will be your win.” This can be translated as: “Europe will be asked to pay vigorously – as it should be – and it will be your victory.”

Selenskij and Trump see themselves at royal food

Also on a US request, Selenskij was only invited to a festival in the castle of the Dutch King Willem-Alexander and not to a joint working session for the summit. In which form Trump and Selenskyj wanted to come together was open. “Yes, I will probably see him,” said the US President.

The king and his wife Máxima received the heads of state and government at the start of the meeting for a state banquet. Some were accompanied by their partners. Unlike at the G7 summit in Canada, Merz traveled without his wife Charlotte last week. Trump was also not accompanied by his wife Melania.

Rutte tried to take care of Selenskij, the war got out of view of the alliance. Rutte assured that Washington’s decisions would have existed.

Trump stood against a renewed mention of an accession. The latter still hopes to end the Russian war of attack by concessions to Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. One of them is that Ukraine should give up a NATO accession for the ceasefire for the time being.

German Chancellor at the side of Ukraine: tightening sanctions

In a government declaration in the Bundestag, the German Chancellor Merz criticized the summit that President Putin also showed no readiness for peace. He again campaigned for tightening the sanctions against Russia. He was “confident” that the US government also goes this way. “Putin only understands the language of strength,” he emphasized.

Merz condemned the youngest Russian air strikes. “A real, permanent peace requires peace of peace from all sides,” he said in a government declaration in front of the summit. “With its new wave of attacks on the Ukrainian civilian population, Russia, on the other hand, has given to a barbaric way that it does not currently have this willingness to peace.” (APA/dpa)