Trump backs NATO on defence spending but sidesteps Article 5 commitment

President Donald Trump voiced firm support for NATO’s renewed push to increase defence spending, applauding allies for moving toward a significant 5 per cent of GDP military investment target.

However, he stopped short of reaffirming the United States’ commitment to Article 5, the alliance’s cornerstone collective defence clause, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

“We’re with them all the way,” Trump said during the NATO summit in The Hague, where he met with Secretary General Mark Rutte. “I mean, if you take a look at the numbers, we’re with them, and they’re very big things to announce today,” he added, referring to the anticipated formal adoption of the 5 per cent defence spending threshold. “I don’t know if you’ve taken the vote or you’re going to take the vote, but I’ve been asking them to go up to 5 per cent for a number of years, and they’re going up to 5 per cent.”

The summit, held over two days in the Netherlands, comes at a critical juncture for the transatlantic alliance, which continues to grapple with Russia’s war in Ukraine — now in its fourth year — and persistent anxieties over America’s long-term military presence in Europe.

Yet Trump’s remarks notably excluded any explicit reference to Article 5. His reluctance to endorse the mutual defense clause has resurfaced as a key concern among NATO allies. While en route to the summit, Trump remarked to reporters that there were “numerous definitions” of Article 5, deflecting direct questions about honoring US obligations under the treaty. He further fanned uncertainty by sharing a social media poll indicating that a majority of his supporters would back a US withdrawal from NATO.

Despite these mixed signals, NATO leaders sought to present a united front and underscore Washington’s continued role in the alliance. Rutte, the former Dutch prime minister and current NATO Secretary General, told reporters he was convinced of the U.S.’s commitment to collective defence, stating the US is “totally committed” to Article 5. He also credited Trump’s persistent pressure for the breakthrough on increased defense spending.

Nevertheless, the specter of US disengagement looms large. Trump’s efforts to broker a peace settlement in Ukraine, while shifting much of the post-war security burden to Europe, have further strained confidence among allied capitals in the reliability of the US security umbrella.

By Vafa Guliyeva