Trump Says U.S. ‘With NATO All the Way’
Trump reiterates support for NATO but hedges on Article 5. Says commitment to Article 5 “depends on how it’s defined.”
President Trump said the United States is “with [NATO] all the way,” but again left ambiguity around his commitment to Article 5, the alliance’s cornerstone mutual defense clause.
Article 5: Still No Clear Commitment
When pressed about the U.S. position on NATO’s Article 5 during the summit, Trump replied, “We’re with them all the way,” but qualified his commitment by saying it “depends on how it’s defined.” This echoes his 2017 hesitation when he first refused to endorse Article 5, only to reverse himself a month later.
His vagueness has reignited concerns among allies about the U.S.’s willingness to uphold the defense pact that underpins NATO’s credibility.
Speaking to reporters at the summit, President Trump celebrated NATO’s move to increase member spending to 5 percent of GDP from 2 percent and took credit for pushing the alliance to increase its military investment.
“It’s going to be very big news,” he said.
Trump Takes Credit for NATO Spending Hike
At the same summit, Trump praised NATO’s decision to raise the military spending target for member states to 5% of GDP by 2035. “It’s going to be very big news,” he said, claiming that this significant shift “wouldn’t have happened” without his leadership and pressure.
The original target had long stood at 2%, with many members lagging behind. Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO allies for underinvesting in their own defense, demanding higher contributions throughout his presidency.