Trump Questions US NATO Defense Commitment Ahead Hague Summit

President Donald Trump cast doubt on the United States' commitment to NATO's mutual defense clause, Article 5, suggesting there are 'numerous definitions' of the pact and withholding a clear affirmation until the NATO summit in The Hague. His comments raised concerns among European allies about U.S. reliability, despite NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's firm reassurance of America's full commitment to the alliance and Article 5. The summit, intended to demonstrate NATO's unity against Russian aggression, will focus on increasing defense spending among member states to 5% of GDP, a significant rise from the existing 2% target, a goal strongly pushed by Trump. Trump also criticized Spain for refusing to meet the new spending target and highlighted his efforts to get all NATO allies to agree to boost defense budgets. Additionally, Trump planned to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who aims to discuss substantial arms purchases and continued pressure on Russia. NATO leadership emphasized the ongoing threat posed by Russia and its allies, underscoring the importance of a stronger, fairer, and more lethal alliance.