NATO Chief Praises Trump, Welcomes German Defense Spending Commitment

Speaking on the first day of the NATO summit, Mark Rutte said low European defense spending had been a ‘pebble in the shoe’ for the Trump administration.
NATO Chief Praises Trump, Welcomes German Defense Spending Commitment
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte during a press conference in Helsinki on Jan. 14, 2025. Lehtikuva/Antti Aimo-Koivisto via Reuters
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THE HAGUE, Netherlands—NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised U.S. President Donald Trump for his efforts to bring peace to Ukraine and urged European countries to stop worrying about the White House reducing its commitment to the alliance.

Speaking on the first day of the NATO summit in The Hague, Netherlands, Rutte on June 24 described the low levels of defense spending by European countries as a “pebble in the shoe” that had irritated Trump and other U.S. politicians.

Chris Summers
Chris Summers
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Chris Summers is a UK-based journalist covering a wide range of national stories, with a particular interest in crime, policing and the law.