EU Trump and Rutte Speak at NATO Summit in The Hague

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President Donald Trump expressed support for NATO, praising its moves to bolster defense spending as the pact's leaders look to secure a US commitment to the alliance. He speaks at a press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

 

 

Transcript of Mark Rutte only before joint session with Trump:

 

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - Good morning. I am very excited about today. I believe this will be a transformational summit, obviously very much concentrating on spending, making sure that NATO collectively has the money and the capabilities to indeed - given our long-term threat of Russia, but also the massive build-up of the military in China, and the fact that North Korea, China, Iran, are supporting the war effort in Ukraine - it's really important that we spend more so that will be number one on the agenda today. A new plan when it comes to spending over the coming years.

Of course, defence industrial production. We know that we are lacking a defence industrial base which is producing sufficiently. So we have fantastic companies, but we have to put in the extra production lines, they have to put in the extra shifts in making sure that we produce the ammunition and all the other, all the items we need.

And Ukraine will be big at the Summit today. Will be discussed making sure that Ukraine, over the coming years, will continue to count on the support of NATO countries to keep them in the fight, but also make sure that we can bring Ukraine to a durable and lasting peace. So a transformational Summit, looking forward to it, and of course, hope to see you later today.

I can now take a few questions, and then at the end, we will see each other at a press conference, and I see that CNBC wants to start – sir.

 

CNBC – Thank you very much, CNBC as you note sir. Look, there’s a lot of questions about Spain, there's a lot of questions about nations that do not feel they have the money in their budget to get to two percent let alone three and a half percent, let alone 5 percent in total as well. Do you fear that Spain could scupper this meeting? And actually, sir, despite all your huge diplomatic efforts, incur the ire, the wrath of the United States?

 

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - No, I don't. I'm not worried about that. Of course, these are difficult decisions, let's be honest, I mean, politicians have to make choices in scarcity. And this is not easy, because seven, eight countries at the start of this year, not at 2% they will now reach the 2% this year. Many of those countries said, we will do it somewhere in the 2030s, they have now committed to do it this year. And already we added in an aggregate of a trillion since 2016, since Trump 45 started his first presidency. But today, this is the third stage. We will add trillions extra with this new plan. But of course, you're right, the countries have to find the money, it's not easy. These are political decisions; I totally recognise that. But at the same time, there is absolute conviction with my colleagues at the table that given the threat from the Russians, given the international security situation, there is no alternative. We've got to do this - really.

 

Reporter – Mr Rutte, why won’t Mr Trump back Article Five?

 

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - For me, there is absolute clarity that United States is totally committed to NATO, totally committed to Article Five. And yes, there is 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, but also to equalise - and this is fair - that we spend the same as the US is spending. Sir, yes.

 

[Question inaudible]

 

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - The big thing about Article Five, and the good thing about Article Five, is that it is clear that we defend each other when we are attacked, but you will always get all these questions you ask, but if this cyber-attack or this hybrid attack? We never go into those details.

 

Reporter – Secretary General, you had dinner with Donald Trump yesterday, in what mood was him? Was he? And do you think…

 

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte – Excellent mood. And the King and Queen were hosting a fantastic dinner in this, and I was so proud to sit in that Orange Hall [Oranjezaal], which is basically example - I'm a historian – so this is about the history of the Dutch Republic. 1648, the Munster Peace Deal and the King made a fantastic speech, you have seen it, I hope? I was also able to say a few words so I think it was a great dinner.

[Questions and answers in Dutch]

 

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - Listen, it's totally true. Would you really think that the seven or eight countries not at 2% at the beginning of this year would have reached the 2% if Trump would not have been elected President of the United States? Do we really think that, of course, there is a threat from the Russians, China, et cetera, et cetera, but that it would be doable to reach this commitment of 5% today? And I'm hopeful, and cautiously optimistic we will get there. If Trump would not have been elected president - so I think what I said in the text message to him - totally fine that he published it, please, but totally fine that he published it, I think it's a statement of fact.

Reporter - Are you okay with him sharing this message? Are you ok with him sharing those SMS? Isn't that a little embarrassing?

 

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - Absolutely not, absolutely not. What is in that text message is a statement of fact, and I'm totally fine that he shared.

 

Reporter – The attacks on Iran appeared to be less positive, less successful than before. Do you reconsider your congratulations?

 

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - No, not at all. And the 14 huge bombs dropped on the nuclear facility of Iran, I think this was crucial to really do everything possible to take out the nuclear capability of the Iranians, which NATO has always said Iran should not get its hands on. And therefore, this decisive action by the United States was so important.

 

Reporter - Yesterday, you told Allies to stop worrying about the United States but how can the Allies stop worrying when Trump keeps relativising Article Five again and again?

 

NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte - I would think, look what the United States is doing, what Donald Trump is doing. They are spending almost a trillion on defence. They are by far the biggest contributor to NATO. They are delivering all the key enablers for NATO, also here in Europe. I mean, they are a important Ally. They are by far the biggest Ally in NATO. They are over 50% of the total NATO economy. But what we now will do over the coming years is to bring down, step by step, shift the burden away from the United States, more towards the Europeans and the Canadians, which I think is fair, and in the meantime, we will also equalise the spending.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from NATO | Bloomberg  2025-06-26

 

 

[spidermike007]

One can only imagine what Rutte said behind the scenes to his team. Damn, that guy is a real circus clown, I thought he might be more intelligent than he actually was, I am astonished the American people would have elected him and I'm very very afraid of the future with him in a position of leadership. And did you pick up on that smell, was it sulfur or what was that? 

[newbee2022]

13 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

One can only imagine what Rutte said behind the scenes to his team. Damn, that guy is a real circus clown, I thought he might be more intelligent than he actually was, I am astonished the American people would have elected him and I'm very very afraid of the future with him in a position of leadership. And did you pick up on that smell, was it sulfur or what was that? 

Thank for this comment! Wonderful ❤️

[Purdey]

12 hours ago, Social Media said:

look what the United States is doing, what Donald Trump is doing. They are spending almost a trillion on defence

Looking at it from another point of view, it might mean that NATO ex-USA has other things like healthcare and education to spend money on, things those countries think are equally important for the future of their countries. Nonetheless, as the war machine needs money, war must always be imminent. No, it isn't fair that an always-on war machine like the USA spends more than others, but perhaps diplomatically preventing wars is as important as fighting them.

[Hanaguma]

You know, something that a LOT of people who suffer from "The Syndrome" fail to realize is that Trump is a very nice guy, one on one. Funny, entertaining, listens well, asks questions.  Quite charming in fact!

[DezLez]

2 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

You know, something that a LOT of people who suffer from "The Syndrome" fail to realize is that Trump is a very nice guy, one on one. Funny, entertaining, listens well, asks questions.  Quite charming in fact!

That of course is according to him!!

[rudi49jr]

More like Trump spoke and Rutte continuously kissed Trump’s @ss. 

[Hanaguma]

1 minute ago, DezLez said:

That of course is according to him!!

You can ask many people who have actually met him- Bill Maher for example. Or see how he and Obama seem to get along whenever they meet.

[Peter Crow]

Amusingly I'd agree with the yellow guy that EU should spend 5% of GDP on defence. But this should go towards the creation of an EIDF (European Integrated Defence Forces). EIDF could then join NATO, or not, as US isn't reliable partner anymore. Alliances with China could prove just a beneficial than the existing relationship with the new non democratic USA.

[HappyExpat57]

2 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

You can ask many people who have actually met him- Bill Maher for example. Or see how he and Obama seem to get along whenever they meet.

Bill Maher was losing sleep over getting pummeled by 47 so he rushed over to kiss whatever he thought needed kissing, and Obama wasn't laughing WITH him guy.

 

Learn to read a room.

[cjinchiangrai]

10 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

You know, something that a LOT of people who suffer from "The Syndrome" fail to realize is that Trump is a very nice guy, one on one. Funny, entertaining, listens well, asks questions.  Quite charming in fact!

Except when the presidents meet, Bush hangs with the Obamas and snubs Trump too. None of them like him at all and for many good reasons.

[Purdey]

16 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

You can ask many people who have actually met him- Bill Maher for example. Or see how he and Obama seem to get along whenever they meet.

I have heard the same thing.

[Hanaguma]

10 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Bill Maher was losing sleep over getting pummeled by 47 so he rushed over to kiss whatever he thought needed kissing, and Obama wasn't laughing WITH him guy.

 

Learn to read a room.

The delusion, it is strong.

Trump spent decades in the public spotlight while he was a developer in NYC. He was a media darling. He was the star of a very successful tv show for more than a decade. Yet now we are to suddenly believe that he has become a loathsome leper? Come on, man. 

[Hanaguma]

4 minutes ago, BLMFem said:

 

Not only that, he's downright self-deprecating!

 

...and Obama replied, "no kidding, I have seen it in action!"

 

They were talking about Biden's brain, am I right? 

[DezLez]

3 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

Yet now we are to suddenly believe that he has become a loathsome leper?

Yes!

But not suddenly!

[DezLez]

8 minutes ago, Purdey said:

I have heard the same thing.

From Trump!

(or his MAGA crowd)

[DezLez]

8 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

...and Obama replied, "no kidding, I have seen it in action!"

 

They were talking about Biden's brain, am I right? 

No it was about Trump's!

[cjinchiangrai]

11 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

The delusion, it is strong.

Trump spent decades in the public spotlight while he was a developer in NYC. He was a media darling. He was the star of a very successful tv show for more than a decade. Yet now we are to suddenly believe that he has become a loathsome leper? Come on, man. 

He has been despised in NYC for over 50 years. There is acting polite in public and there is the actual feelings. Nobody trusts him and he is a pariah. 

[HappyExpat57]

1 minute ago, cjinchiangrai said:

He has been despised in NYC for over 50 years. There is acting polite in public and there is the actual feelings. Nobody trusts him and he is a pariah. 

But his cultists LUV him! No accounting for taste (or common sense).

[Hanaguma]

God, it is HILARIOUS seeing all the anti-Trump types jump and scream.

 

"No, no, NO!!! Nobody could POSSIBLY have anything positive to say about the Bad Orange Man!! It would damage my carefully constructed house of cards about him...."

 

Y'all need to sniff some flowers. See some nature. Anything to counteract the malignancy that is dominating your lives. This mindless and pointless obsession with a man you have never, and will never, meet is not good for your blood pressure or stomach acid. 

[DezLez]

23 minutes ago, Hanaguma said:

God, it is HILARIOUS seeing all the anti-Trump types jump and scream.

 

"No, no, NO!!! Nobody could POSSIBLY have anything positive to say about the Bad Orange Man!! It would damage my carefully constructed house of cards about him...."

 

Y'all need to sniff some flowers. See some nature. Anything to counteract the malignancy that is dominating your lives. This mindless and pointless obsession with a man you have never, and will never, meet is not good for your blood pressure or stomach acid. 

And the point of your rant is?

[Hanaguma]

16 minutes ago, DezLez said:

And the point of your rant is?

No rant here. Just mentioned in passing that it isn't so unbelievable that Rutte and Trump get along, because Trump gets along with lots of people. And that set the fox in the henhouse, with denials and protestations galore. 

[cjinchiangrai]

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

But his cultists LUV him! No accounting for taste (or common sense).

He would never meet with the illiterate peasants.