President Trump on Tuesday heads to Brussels for NATO Vihura summit in Hague, Netherlands, a few hours after announced that Iran and Israel have reached A Agreement on ceasefire.
The President hoped to provide at least 5% of GDP defense GDP during the summit. But the day before he arrived, the alliance had already agreed to increase the cost of defense, Matthew Waiter, US Ambassador to NATO reports. He told reporters at a briefing on Monday that as a result of Mr. Trump's leadership, NATO was “on the way” to make this “historical commitment” of 5%.
The US spent approximately 3.4% of GDP defense in 2023, but the president said he believed that there should be no 5% target in the US.
“I believe we have been supporting NATO for so long, in many cases, I believe paying almost 100% of the cost,” he told reporters on Friday. “So, I don't think we should, but I think NATO countries must absolutely.”
However, there is no accurate time for a 5% commitment, and the achievement of this threshold can extend to the 2030s for some NATO countries, causing criticism that a 5% promise can become empty.
In addition to the conflict in the Middle East, the Russian war with Ukraine is still the main topic that raises the concern of NATO members. It is not yet clear whether the US will support the language, referring to Russia as a major threat to NATO in its communique – Waiter avoided answering the reporter's question.
“Negotiations on the communique are still underway, so I will not be able to comment directly on a specific language,” said Whitter, adding, “I am fully expected that the summit will be directly, before, and reflects the current assessment of the allies' threats and the need for collective protection and individual protection of all allies.”
He said the United States “calls for restraint and (calling) both sides to avoid escalation,” and he continued to say that the United States is “engaged at the highest levels,” and the backs of a direct conversation between Russia and Ukraine.
Shortly before the summit, on Saturday, the US conducted a strike Three Iranian sites considered key for Iran's nuclear program. The move caused fear of a widespread war, but Iran's reaction was limited on Monday. Iran fired More than a dozen rockets in American base in QatarMost of which were intercepted and not reported about the injuries, the Qatar officials said.
Mr. Trump called “retroit blows” very weak, and in another message on social media he said he wants “to thank Iran for the early messages that made it possible to lose life.
Within hours, Mr. Trump announced that Iran and Israel will cease fire and will soon give war to the end.
NATO summit A single two -hour session will be presented, not several sessions. Mr. Trump also plans to meet separately with several world leaders on the sidelines, said a senior US official on Friday the conference.
The president leaves at the summit early on Tuesday and returns on Wednesday.
NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty, is the world's largest defense alliance, with 32 members, including the United States, which it was created after World War II, and since then has grown up and its latest additions were in Finland in 2023, and Sweden in 2024. Helping Ukraine to resist Russia's aggression, which was a top priority for NATO, albeit in Sweden.
He contributed to this report.