The head of NATO has said Donald Trump is “totally committed” to Article 5 after the US president cast doubt on his interpretation of the alliance’s mutual defence guarantees.
Speaking at the NATO summit in The Hague, Mark Rutte said there was “absolute clarity” about Mr Trump’s position on Article 5 and commitment to the alliance.
NATO’s Article 5 requires members to defend each other from attack.
Middle East latest: Trump rejects US intel on nuclear sites
“For me, there is absolute clarity that the United States is totally committed to NATO, totally committed to Article 5,” Mr Rutte said.
“And yes, there’s also an expectation which will be fulfilled today that the Canadians and the Europeans will speed up their spending, making sure that we not only are able, to defend ourselves against the Russians and others.”
His comments came after the US president avoided directly endorsing Article 5, telling reporters en route to the summit that there were “numerous definitions” of the clause.
Mr Trump said on Air Force One: “I’m committed to saving lives. I’m committed to life and safety. And I’m going to give you an exact definition when I get there.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Speaking on day two of the NATO summit, Mr Rutte hailed the gathering as “transformational”, with leaders in the Hague expected to endorse a higher defence spending goal of 5% of GDP, fulfilling a long-standing demand by Mr Trump.
However, tensions between Israel and Iran could dominate discussions amid a fragile ceasefire.
Several news outlets have published stories that intelligence reports in the US suggest that the American attack on Iran’s nuclear programme over the weekend has only set it back by a few months, rather than “obliterated” it as Mr Trump has suggested.
The White House has rejected the reports, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying it was “flat out wrong”.
👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈
Rutte heaps praise on Trump
Ahead of Mr Trump’s appearance at the NATO summit, Mr Rutte heaped praise on him in a message shared by the US president.
The NATO secretary general congratulated Mr Trump for his “decisive action in Iran”, as well as his push to increase defence spending.
“You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done,” Mr Rutte told Mr Trump.
“Europe is going to pay in a BIG way as they should, and it will be your win.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Read more:
UK to buy nuclear-carrying fighter jets
Doubt cast over success of ‘Operation Midnight Hammer’
All NATO members have backed a statement enshrining the 5% target – to be achieved over the next 10 years. However, Spain has declared it does not need to meet the goal.
Mr Rutte acknowledged it was not easy for countries to fund the hike in defence spending, but said it was vital to do so in light of European fears that Russia poses an increasing threat to their security following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“There is absolute conviction with my colleagues at the table that given this threat from the Russians, given the international security situation, there is no alternative,” he told reporters.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is among those attending the summit.
On Wednesday, he insisted that NATO is “as relevant and important today as it has ever been”.
“We live in a very volatile world, and today is about the unity of NATO, showing that strength,” he added.
