180 degree turn did the Donald Trump For Article 5 of the NATO Pact. Although a few hours before the US president had refused to commit to the collective defense, after the end of the Hague session he said he supported the mutual defensive obligations of his Member States NATO Following the historic agreement to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, offering a commitment that will boost restless European allies.
Donald Trump’s statements came just a day after he had challenged NATO’s defensive clause and causing the Allies to be tension on whether the US leaves the alliance and collective security broadly.
“I’m standing by his side, so I’m here,” Trump said today (25.06.2025) in a meeting with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Shov when asked about Article 5, which requires members to defend each other against attacks. “If I weren’t with him, I wouldn’t be here,” he said according to Bloomberg.
Asked if he would defend countries, Trump replied: “So what did I just say now? Yes. Naturally. Why be here? “Trump’s comment that offered an unequivocal support for the Treaty’s obligation marked a critical victory for NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Rutte curated a summit that focused on highlighting members’ plans to increase spending, minimize friction with the US president, and gain the commitment of the largest economy and the strongest army in the world in the pact of the team.
Trump’s comments will also be welcomed by allies as they come at a critical time for an alliance facing some of the most intense challenges of recent decades. Russia’s War in Ukraine is in his fourth year and Trump’s efforts to end the conflict have left the allies concerned that he will abandon Kiev or transfer any responsibility for maintaining a future ceasefire in Europe. There is also concern that the US will withdraw troops and weapons from Epirus.
US President Donald Trump said he was standing behind NATO’s mutual defense obligations after his members’ historical vote to increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP, offering a commitment that will boost the restless European allies.
Trump’s comments came just a day after his arrival at the NATO summit in The Hague, questioning NATO’s defensive clause and putting the allies on alert. There is also concern that the US will withdraw troops and weapons from Epirus.
Trump has attacked what he considers to be excessively dependent on the US allies on Washington for collective security and has called on them to shoulder more weight – reinforced by the repeated threats that he may not be willing to help them in the event of a war.
In his flight to the Netherlands, Trump retreated when asked about Article 5, arguing that he was open to multiple interpretations. He also shared a post on social media showing that the majority of his supporters would approve if he decided to withdraw the US from NATO.
However, Rutte downgraded these tensions and overseered a concentration in which leaders flatter Trump, seeking to win him over. The Secretary -General knit the president’s praise, saying at the welcome dinner on Tuesday night that Trump’s “long -term leadership” was responsible for the decision to increase defense spending.
The 5% threshold is a goal that Trump has pressed the allies to adopt and marks a significant increase compared to today’s 2% level.
“We are with them all the way,” Trump had said about NATO during a meeting earlier on Wednesday with Rutte.