THE HAGUE, Netherlands — President Donald Trump offered an emphatic endorsement of NATO and issued a rare public rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the alliance’s summit in The Hague on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, providing reassurance to European allies and marking a shift in tone on transatlantic relations.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump welcomed what he called a “historic” commitment by member states to increase defence spending, with nearly all agreeing to raise expenditures to 5% of GDP — far exceeding the alliance’s long-standing 2% target.
“We’re with them all the way,” Trump said.
“If I didn’t stand with it, why would I be here?”
The summit was closely watched by both foreign leaders and U.S. observers, many of whom have expressed concern over Trump’s past criticisms of NATO and ambivalence toward Article 5 — the mutual defence clause at the heart of the alliance.
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, however, Trump appeared to reinforce the U.S. commitment.
“As far as Article 5, look — when I came here, I came here because it was something I’m supposed to be doing,” he told reporters.
“These people really love their countries. It’s not a rip-off. And we’re here to help them protect their countries.”
Rutte, who took on the role of NATO secretary general earlier this year, offered praise for Trump’s influence in securing increased contributions.
“Would you ever think this would be the result of this summit, if he would not have been re-elected president?” Rutte said, noting that several member nations had dramatically accelerated defence spending plans.
Trump also addressed questions about the recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, launched in coordination with Israel.
While early intelligence assessments had suggested uncertainty about the extent of the damage, Trump maintained that the mission had been successful.
“It’s been obliterated, totally obliterated,” Trump said.
“We’ve collected additional intelligence. We’ve also spoken to people that have seen the site, and the site is obliterated.”
An Israeli official told journalsits that preliminary findings supported the assessment that Iran’s programme had been “set back by several years.”
Trump also pointed to recent ceasefires in other global conflicts — including between Israel and Iran, Pakistan and India, and Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo — as evidence of what he described as effective U.S. diplomacy.
In a notable departure from his usual rhetoric, Trump offered unusually direct criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin for his continued aggression in Ukraine.
“Vladimir Putin has been more difficult,” Trump said during a bilateral press event, adding that the U.S. was considering the delivery of additional Patriot missile systems to Kyiv.
He confirmed that further funding could follow if Russia did not show progress toward a ceasefire.
“Look, Vladimir Putin really has to end that war,” he said.
Trump described his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as “very nice,” adding that Zelenskyy “couldn’t have been nicer.”
For many European leaders, Trump’s appearance in The Hague and his explicit support for NATO served as a moment of reassurance after years of unpredictability in U.S.-European relations.
However, analysts say allies remain cautious, particularly ahead of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.
Still, Trump’s tone — praising the alliance, rebuking adversaries, and engaging actively with traditional partners — marked a shift that many in Europe hope will continue beyond the summit.
The next phase of NATO coordination is expected to focus on further defence integration, with follow-up meetings already scheduled in Brussels and Washington later this year.
