President Donald Trump will travel to The Hague on Tuesday, June 24, for his first NATO summit of his second term. While the summit was expected to highlight his push for increased defense spending among member nations, attention is now focused on recent U.S. airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities and a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
How did the Iran strikes shape the summit?
Just days before the summit, the U.S. launched airstrikes targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. The operation used 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs against underground enrichment sites. Trump described the strikes as “a very successful attack,” claiming Iran’s key nuclear sites were “completely and totally obliterated.”
Iran, which maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, responded with missile strikes on a U.S. base in Qatar. Trump said the U.S. intercepted 13 of those missiles, and one missed its target. He added that the strikes did not harm any Americans.
Following the exchange, Trump announced on Truth Social that both sides had agreed to a ceasefire. He said the conflict “could have gone on for years,” but has now “ended.” Despite the ceasefire, tensions remain high. Multiple governments have expressed concern about further escalation.
What is Trump proposing on NATO defense spending?
Trump looks to urge NATO allies to adopt a new 5% defense spending target: 5% of GDP, more than double the alliance’s current 2% guideline. The president has long argued that the U.S. bears a disproportionate share of NATO’s defense burden and has previously threatened to withhold support from members that do not meet financial obligations.
While some administration officials have expressed optimism about securing support for the 5% threshold, not all members are on board. Spain’s prime minister announced an alternative arrangement allowing Spain to remain in NATO while contributing 2.1% of GDP.
How has NATO leadership responded?
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Tuesday, June 24, that the United States remains committed to the alliance but expects greater defense contributions from European and Canadian members, according to Reuters. Rutte called the spending dispute a “huge irritant” but emphasized NATO’s unity in deterring threats, particularly from Russia.
How is Russia reacting to the summit and spending push?
The Kremlin sharply criticized NATO’s new defense spending proposal. Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused NATO of pursuing “rampant militarization” while portraying Russia as a “fiend of hell” to justify higher military budgets, Reuters reported.
While denying any intention to attack NATO, Peskov said the alliance remains fixated on confrontation. Separately, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused NATO of expanding its reach into regions beyond its traditional focus, including the Middle East, South Caucasus, Central Asia and the Asia-Pacific.
What role is Ukraine playing at the summit?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attending meetings in The Hague and is expected to speak on Tuesday. NATO officials have sought to avoid intensifying debate over the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Trump has continued to argue that Ukraine’s NATO aspirations contributed to Russia’s 2022 invasion.
What other NATO initiatives are under discussion?
Beyond Iran and defense spending, the summit follows recent moves to bolster NATO’s defense production and accelerate the adoption of new technologies.
In February, NATO approved an updated Defence Production Action Plan to increase industrial capacity, strengthen supply chains and promote multinational procurement, according to NATO documents. In June, defense ministers approved the Rapid Adoption Action Plan to integrate new technologies within 24 months of identifying operational needs.
