NATO countries' pledge to spend 5% of their economic output on defense is Donald Trump's 'biggest foreign policy success,' according to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in a recent BBC interview.
Rutte noted that Trump's leadership has strengthened NATO more than ever, stating that Trump 'is good news for collective defense, for NATO and for Ukraine'.
The increased funding commitment comes as NATO faces rising tensions with Russia, with the alliance's chief warning that Russian aggression could escalate in the coming years. Rutte pointed out that member nations had responded to Trump's criticisms regarding defense spending, pledging to boost military investments significantly.
In that context, Rutte praised Trump's diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, indicating that U.S. envoys have been negotiating a peace plan, despite some criticisms that the initial terms favored Russia.
As Europe anticipates future threats, Rutte underscores the urgency to implement these spending decisions, lest they find themselves at a disadvantage against Russia in the near future. The NATO response, he highlighted, is not only essential for regional security but also for reinforcing the unity among NATO allies in the face of external threats.
