U.S. President Donald Trump is confirmed to attend a NATO summit in The Hague later this June, where his persistent demands for increased defence spending are expected to be the central focus, the White House announced on Tuesday.
This will mark Trump’s first engagement with the transatlantic alliance since his return to office, following years of criticism about NATO partners not contributing their “fair share” to defence.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump’s attendance, stating, “I can confirm he will be going to the NATO summit, yes.” Trump has a history of threatening to withdraw from NATO and has recently indicated he would only defend allies meeting his defence spending criteria.
His administration has also hinted at reallocating U.S. forces away from Europe to address threats like China, while also causing diplomatic friction with Canada and Denmark over territorial claims.
Trump’s core demand is for NATO members to allocate five per cent of their GDP to defence, arguing that the United States carries a disproportionate share of the defence burden. Currently, none of NATO’s 32 members, including the U.S., meet this five per cent target.
To appease Trump and secure an agreement, NATO chief and former Dutch premier Mark Rutte has proposed a compromise: 3.5 per cent of GDP for direct defence spending by 2032, coupled with an additional 1.5 per cent for broader security-related expenditures.
This proposal, which could allow Trump to claim a victory by reaching his desired figure, even if not all of it represents new spending, gained significant backing from Germany and France in May, increasing its likelihood of approval.
Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia will also be on the agenda, with President Volodymyr Zelensky confirming his country’s invitation to the summit.
