NATO Summit in The Hague
NATO Secretary General Mark Latte welcomed President Donald Trump to the Alliance Summit in The Hague on Wednesday, describing him as a “man of power,” a “man of peace,” and jokingly as a “daddy” who managed to get Iran and Israel to stop their squabbling like “two children in the school yard.”
Latte remarked on the intense hostilities between Iran and Israel, stating, “They fight like hell. You can’t stop them. Let them fight for a little while, then it’s easy to intervene. After that, Dad sometimes has to use some firm language.”
He expressed his frustrations about negotiating a truce between the two nations. Trump commented on the situation, mentioning to reporters, “Basically, these countries have been at it for so long that they’ve lost sight of what they’re actually doing.”
Interestingly, Trump’s language during the conflict was quite bold. Initially criticized for his choice of words, he claimed he was necessary in restoring a ceasefire.
On Wednesday, he mentioned that Israel was within its rights when it came to Iran violating the ceasefire first. He felt “pride” in how restrained Israel had been in its response.
Latte praised Trump for pushing NATO members to commit to spending five percent of their GDP on defense by 2035. This target includes 3.5% specifically for military funds, alongside 1.5% for security infrastructure and cyber warfare. The US is one of the few NATO members nearing that 3.5% mark.
During a joint press conference, Latte thanked Trump, saying, “If he hadn’t been elected in 2016, this wouldn’t be happening now. So again, thank you.” Most NATO members have struggled to meet the previous 2% target, and Trump has often accused the alliance of being too dependent on US funding, advocating for that 5% target.
He took particular issue with Canada’s contributions, hinting at potential challenges with members who aren’t keeping up their end. “Spain doesn’t agree, which is quite unfair to the others,” Trump said.
On Tuesday, Trump shared a message of congratulations from Latte on his social media account, where Latte acknowledged Trump’s “decisive action in Iran,” noting how “unique” it was.
Latte expressed excitement about the agreements reached at the summit, saying, “Tonight represents another big win in The Hague. It wasn’t easy, but we’ve secured commitments for 5%!”
He continued, “Donald, you’ve led us to truly significant moments for America, Europe, and the world. You’re achieving what American presidents before you could not. Europe will contribute more, and that will be your legacy.”
In response, Trump applauded the other NATO leaders for rallying around the challenge of increased defense spending.
He reflected, “I’ve been advocating for up to 5% over the years. They’ve moved from 2% to 5%. Many didn’t even meet the 2%, and I think this change will be huge.”
Latte reiterated, “None of this would have occurred without President Trump,” predicting a “big impact” from the summit’s outcomes.
Trump expressed his gratitude for Latte’s support and noted that NATO would not have considered these spending commitments under the previous administration. “When Biden was around, everything was just stagnant, much like everything else,” Trump said.
