Rutte uses charts to calm Trump over NATO spending and Iran clash

Mark Rutte brought cardboard charts into the Oval Office on June 24 and used them to show how much NATO countries have increased defense spending since Donald Trump first took office in 2017. The secretary general was trying to steady a president who has called NATO a "paper tiger," complained that allies did not help the United States in the Iran conflict and said he was considering leaving the alliance.

The White House meeting came as Rutte tried to head off a clash before NATO leaders gather in Ankara, Turkey, on July 7-8. Pete Hegseth has already ordered a six-month review of U.S. troop deployments in Europe and warned about "free-riding" allies, adding pressure on governments that still depend on American forces and guarantees.

On June 18, NATO data showed European allies and Canada had posted record increases in defense spending last year, adding more than $90 billion in real terms and $139 billion in nominal terms. Rutte called the allies "equalizing" defense spending with the United States and said reluctance to back Washington in the Iran war was limited to "isolated cases."

At their 2025 summit in The Hague, NATO leaders agreed to a new target of spending 5% of GDP on defense by 2035, with 3.5% for core defense and 1.5% for broader security-related investment. Rutte has framed that pledge as part of a reset meant to keep the United States engaged, saying the alliance needs "a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO" with more forces, more resources and a stronger industrial base.

NATO officials say some allies could reach the new 5% goal this year, well ahead of schedule, while others will face scrutiny in Ankara. Slovenia, Albania and the Czech Republic remain below NATO's earlier 2% target, and Spain has been a particular target of Trump’s criticism over defense spending.