THE HAGUE, Netherlands — In a move that has caught many observers off guard, President Donald Trump delivered an unexpectedly cordial message to NATO allies as he took center stage on day two of the NATO Summit in The Hague. The U.S. president, long known for his fierce criticism of the alliance, struck a tone of restrained triumph and diplomatic pragmatism — all while touting what his team calls a “historic transformation” in NATO’s defense posture.
Trump’s visit follows a week of geopolitical brinkmanship, including a sudden U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran, which averted a major regional escalation. At the heart of today’s meetings, however, is Trump’s push for NATO nations to increase their defense contributions — a campaign he has waged since his first term. And now, it appears he’s getting exactly what he wanted.
During a private exchange revealed in text messages shared by Trump’s team, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte congratulated the U.S. president for “making Europe pay in a big way,” referring to the alliance’s newly adopted 5% defense spending target. That’s more than double the previous benchmark, set in 2006, which asked member states to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense.
“You are flying into another big success in The Hague this evening,” Rutte texted, adding praise for Trump’s role in brokering the Israel-Iran ceasefire just hours before boarding Air Force One. “Your decisive action on Iran was extraordinary — something no one else dared to do.”
The ambitious new figure — 5% of GDP — includes 3.5% for conventional defense spending and 1.5% for related domains like cyber, intelligence, and infrastructure. NATO ambassadors finalized the language in a weekend session. Only Spain has been granted a temporary exemption.
For years, Trump has lambasted NATO members for failing to meet their financial obligations, famously calling the alliance “obsolete” and threatening to withhold U.S. support. But today, those threats appear to have yielded results — at least in raw financial terms.
“Countries like Poland are already there. The U.S. is close,” Rutte told reporters. “Others will have to work hard, but this is the first time in decades we’re seeing real momentum.”
Trump echoed that assessment. “The United States has led by example,” he told reporters en route to The Hague. “Now others are finally stepping up.”
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