The Hague, the Netherlands – US President Donald Trump and his NATO counterparts will meet on Tuesday to obtain a summit that could unite the largest security organization in the world about a new pledge to defense spending or expand divisions between the 32 allies.
Just a week ago, things looked pink. NATO Secretary -General Mark Retty was optimistic that European members would commit to Canada to invest at least from their economic growth in defense as the United States does for the first time.
Then Spain rejected the new NATO goal for each country to spend 5 % of its gross domestic product on the defense needs, describing it as “unreasonable”. Trump also insists on this number. The coalition works on a consensus that requires support for all 32 members.
The next day, Trump said the United States should not have to respect the goal.
“I don’t think we should do so, but I think they should.” Trump criticized the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, saying: “NATO will have to deal with Spain. Spain has been a very low motivation.” Canada also criticized it as a “low motivation”.
Spain was lower individually in the coalition last year, as it directed less than 2 % of its gross domestic product on defense expenditures, while Canada was spending 1.45 %, according to NATO.
Then Trump ordered the bombing of nuclear establishments in Iran. In 2003, the US -led war on Iraq led the NATO deeply, as France and Germany led the attack, while Britain and Spain joined the alliance.
European allies and Canada also want Ukraine to be at the top of the summit agenda, but they are warned that Trump may not want President Vodimir Zelinski to steal the spotlight.
Short summit, contracts of mutual security
The two -day summit in The Hague includes an informal dinner on Tuesday and a single work session on Wednesday morning. The very short summit statement was formulated to ensure that the meeting does not come out by fighting on details and formulation.
In fact, much about this NATO top is short, although the ripples can feel for years.
12 countries were established in 1949, which were formed by 12 countries to confront the threat of security in Europe posed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War, especially through an American strong presence on the continent.
Dealing with Moscow in DNA. Keeping peace outside the Atlantic region is not.
NATO has grown to 32 countries since the Treaty of Washington 75 years ago. Sweden joined last year, increasingly concerned about aggressive Russia.
Ensuring the collective security of NATO – Article 5 of the Treaty – supports its credibility.
It is a political commitment from all countries with the help of any member whose sovereignty or lands may be attacked. Trump suggested that he is committed to this pledge, but he also sows a doubt about his intentions. He said that the United States intends to remain a member of the coalition.
A civil runs NATO, but the United States and the military carry power
The United States is the strongest member of NATO. It spends much more on defense than any other ally and excels its partners in terms of military muscles. Washington traditionally led the agenda, but it retreated during the Trump era.
The American nuclear arsenal provides strategic deterrent against potential opponents.
NATO daily work is led by Root, former Dutch Prime Minister.
As a better civil official, he chairs almost weekly meeting meetings for the North Atlantic Council at its headquarters in Brussels. He heads the other “NACS” at the ministerial levels and the leader. Rutte runs NATO headquarters, in an attempt to enhance consensus and talk on behalf of all members.
NATO military headquarters is close to Mons, Belgium. It is always operated by senior US officers.
Ukraine’s role in the summit is unclear
With Trump’s demand for greater spending on defense, it is not clear the role that Ukraine will play at the top. Zelenskyy has been invited, but it is not clear if he will get a seat on the NATO table, although he may participate in a dinner on Tuesday. Russia’s war in Ukraine usually dominates such meetings.
On a wider scale, NATO itself does not arrest Ukraine. As an organization, you do not have any weapons of any kind. Collectively, it provides only non -girl support – fuel, fighting shares, medical supplies, body shields, and equipment to counter drones or mines.
But individually, members send an arms. European allies provided 60 % of Ukraine’s military support in 2024. NATO is coordinating these weapons through a center on the Polish border and helps to organize training in Ukrainian forces.
NATO forces plans
A major part of the commitment to the allies to defend each other is to deter Russia, or any other opponent, from the attack in the first place. Finland and Sweden joined NATO recently because of this anxiety.
Under NATO new military plans, 300,000 military personnel will be deployed within 30 days to counter any attack, whether on the ground, at sea, in the air, or in electronic space. But experts question whether the allies can mobilize the numbers of forces.
It is not only related to the numbers of forces and equipment. The opponent is unlikely to be less likely to challenge NATO if he believes that allies will use the forces he controls. Trump’s threats against the United States’ allies – including the imposition of customs duties on them – have weakened this deterrence.
The United States carries the largest military burden
Due to the high American defense spending over many years, the American armed forces have more superior employees and weapons, but also important transport and logistical assets.
The other allies began spending more. After years of discounts, NATO members committed to increased national defense budgets in 2014 when Russia annexed the Crimea in Ukraine illegally.
After Russia has widely invaded Ukraine in 2022, NATO allies agreed to make 2 % of GDP to the minimum spending level. Last year, 22 countries were expected to reach this goal, up from only three before a decade.
In The Hague, the Allies were expected to reach 3.5 %, as well as another 1.5 % for things such as improving roads, bridges, ports, airports or preparing societies to deal with future conflicts. Whether they will now remain an open question.
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