French President Emmanuel Macron expressed concern over President Trump’s trade tariffs with the European Union, urging for a resolution. He stated, "We can’t say to each other, among allies, we need to spend more… and wage trade war against one another, it makes no sense."
The remarks came during a summit in The Hague, which kicked off with a dinner hosted by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. The main gathering of leaders was shortened to just two and a half hours. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte highlighted the urgency of the situation, saying that NATO is meeting at a "dangerous moment." He reinforced the alliance’s principle of mutual defense, emphasizing that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
Rutte also commended Trump for his approach to the Iran-Israel conflict, noting the president’s frustration over a ceasefire that seemed to be in jeopardy. During the summit, Trump likened the disputes between the U.S. and its allies to "two kids in a schoolyard," to which Rutte humorously added that sometimes "daddy has to use strong language."
On the sidelines of the summit, Trump met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Afterward, Trump acknowledged that reaching a ceasefire in Ukraine was more challenging than he had anticipated. He mentioned the possibility of providing Ukraine with additional air defense systems, referring to Zelensky as a "nice guy" facing difficulties.
In the final statement from the NATO member states, they reaffirmed their commitment to support Ukraine, stating that its security is vital to their own. They also noted that contributions to Ukraine’s defense and its defense industry would be factored into assessments of each ally’s defense spending.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized NATO’s ongoing relevance, saying that the alliance is more united and stronger than ever in a volatile world.