NATO summit in the Haag: NATO summit with Trump-how stable is the alliance?

In the middle of great tensions, concern and warlike arguments in the Middle East, the first NATO summit has started in the Haag since Donald Trump’s re-enactment. Shortly before his departure to the Netherlands, Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) wants to explain his foreign policy course for meeting with colleagues from the 32 NATO countries and the following EU summit in a government statement in the Bundestag (12.00 p.m.). The NATO summit begins tonight.

Iran had attacked a US military base in Qatar last night as a retaliation for the bombing of its nuclear facilities by the United States-according to US President Donald Trump, the USA was warned. Merz and France’s President Emmanuel Macron, meanwhile, emphasized their determination one day before the summit in a joint guest post for the “Financial Times” to defend freedom and security in Europe.

Defense expenditure of one of the most important topics

The biggest threat to Europe’s stability is based on Russia, which then strives to destabilize European countries and to question the world order, the article said. Beyond the Russian threat and the support of Ukraine, it is about the defense against terrorism and the defense of territory, population and their own interests worldwide. “We will have to face these challenges. Not because someone asks us to do it, but because we are clear and owe our citizens to do this.”

NATO members want to spend significantly more money for defense

Merz and Macron also emphasized that Germany and France significantly increased their defense spending to strengthen the European pillar in NATO. In addition to the threats from Russia, the summit should primarily be about the demand of US President Trump for more military independence of the European Allies. Preliminary clarification stipulates that every NATO member increases its annual defense-relevant expenditure to at least five percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

An amount of at least 3.5 percent of GDP is to be paid to classic military spending. In addition, expenses for fighting terrorism and militarily usable infrastructure should be credited. It is about investments in railway lines, tank -compatible bridges and extended ports.

NATO summit begins with a festive dinner at the king

Officially, the NATO summit begins in the evening (7 p.m.) with a gala dinner of the heads of state and government together with their partners in the castle of the Dutch King Willem-Alexander. In the Huis ten Bosch in the Haag, Trump and his wife Melania and Merz are expected with his wife Charlotte. State and government heads from partner states, including the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, are also on the guest list.

Government declaration of the Chancellor about NATO and EU summits

Chancellor Merz is expected to comment in his government declaration before departure to the summit for the USA in Israel’s war against Iran and for further support from Ukraine. Merz had once again clearly standed behind the air raids on Iran yesterday. There is no reason to criticize Israel’s attack on Iran on June 13 “and no reason to criticize what America did last weekend,” he said. Merz justified his attitude with the acting of Iran as “the terrorist regime in the world”.

Trump calls Iran attack “very weak answer”

The United States had joined Iran at the weekend at the side of Israel. They attacked several nuclear facilities to serve the construction of an Iranian atomic bomb. Iran’s government condemned the attack as contrary to international law. After the retaliation attacks of the Iranians yesterday, Trump thanked for the warning and called the attack a “very weak answer”.

Perhaps Iran can now go to peace and harmony in the Middle East – he will encourage Israel to do this too, Trump continued to do so. Israel has been war on Iran for a good ten days.

In addition to the wars in Middle East and Ukraine as well as defense spending, the unity of the allies also plays a major role. The European NATO members hope for a clear sign of unity from US President Trump on the summit. They are unsure whether the United States still feel unconditionally committed to the alliance.

Greatest security operation in the history of the Netherlands

In view of the threat potential by the current wars, the Dutch government wants to protect the NATO summit with the largest security operation in the country’s history, according to it. Around 27,000 police officers are deployed at the “Orange Shield” operation, about half of all police officers in the country. There are more than 10,000 soldiers.