As he headed to the NATO summit in The Hague, President Donald Trump sparked uncertainty over whether the U.S. would fully honor NATO’s mutual defense clause, Article 5. When asked by reporters, Trump responded vaguely, saying, “Depends on your definition,” and added that he’s committed to “saving lives” rather than giving a direct answer about military defense commitments.
Trump’s remarks have stirred concern among European allies, many of whom were already cautious due to his past criticism of NATO. The timing is especially sensitive, as the summit comes just days after Trump ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and then brokered a short-lived ceasefire between Iran and Israel. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, however, insisted that the U.S. remains committed to the alliance.
Since his first appearance at NATO in 2017, Trump has questioned the alliance’s value and pushed members to boost defense spending. This week, he once again urged countries to raise their military budgets to 5% of GDP—a figure far beyond NATO’s current 2% guideline. He claimed his pressure is the reason countries are now “paying a lot more.”
Trump’s unpredictability has made many NATO members uneasy. His past statements, including one in 2024 where he said he’d encourage Russia to attack non-paying members, have added to fears that the U.S. might one day withdraw or fail to defend its allies. Analysts believe European leaders feel they must “deliver for Trump” to keep America engaged.
Despite Trump’s tone, other U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and NATO Ambassador Matt Whitaker, have assured allies of continued support. They said the administration wants a stronger, not weaker, NATO. Still, concerns linger about potential troop shifts from Europe to the Indo-Pacific, a region the Trump administration views as a higher priority.
Trump is expected to meet key leaders during the summit, possibly including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For now, his comments continue to cast a shadow over the event, keeping both allies and critics watching closely.