President Donald Trump is set to participate in a series of discussions on foreign policy at this week’s NATO summit, which is taking place in The Hague. Conversations will likely extend beyond just Ukraine.
A senior official from the Trump administration mentioned over the weekend that the president is still planning to attend the summit starting Wednesday. Trump will depart for the Netherlands on Tuesday, arriving late that evening. This is a slight adjustment from his initially scheduled departure on Monday.
Trump had previously spoken to the nation, celebrating what he described as a “magnificent military success” following a US strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Originally, Trump was supposed to attend a state dinner with other foreign leaders on Tuesday evening, but his later arrival could impact that schedule. The White House has not provided further details about the president’s itinerary.
Recent changes to Trump’s travel plans came after his abrupt departure from the G7 Economic Summit in Canada last Saturday, citing the ongoing situation in the Middle East.
The summit is also anticipated to involve discussions related to Trump’s recent actions in the Israeli campaign in the Middle East. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to join, focusing on ongoing support for Ukraine during its war with Russia. However, while Ukraine remains an important topic, it’s likely that tensions regarding Iran will dominate the discussions.
Additionally, leaders may address NATO Executive Director General Marc Latte’s proposal for member nations to allocate at least 5% of their GDP toward defense spending. This notion, which has been framed as a success for Trump, was not embraced by Spain, though concerns around the speed at which member countries are ramping up defense budgets linger.
The summit wraps up on Wednesday, after which Trump will head back to Washington. As expected, heavy security measures are in place, and protests have already erupted in anticipation of the summit’s discussions.
