Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free
Your guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the world
Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte has praised Donald Trump for making Europe “pay in a BIG way” on increased defence spending, in a private message that the US president shared on his social media platform.
“Donald, you have driven us to a really, really important moment for America and Europe, and the world,” Rutte wrote ahead of a Nato summit that begins on Tuesday, referencing the US president’s demand that all allies commit to raising defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP.
“You will achieve something NO American president in decades could get done,” he added, according to screenshots of his text message posted by Trump to Truth Social on Tuesday.
“It was not easy but we’ve got them all signed onto 5 per cent!” Rutte wrote. “Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win.”
Rutte also praised Trump’s “decisive action in Iran, that was truly extraordinary, and something no one else dared to do”.
A Nato official confirmed the message’s authenticity.
This is a developing story
