Articles

# President Trump’s Leadership, Vision Drives NATO Breakthrough

The White House
June 26, 2025

In a defining moment for global security, President Donald J. Trump achieved a monumental victory for the United States and its allies, brokering an historic deal to dramatically increase defense contributions across the NATO alliance — and marking a new era of shared responsibility and strength against global threats.

The agreement was met with widespread praise at home and across the world.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte: “Would you ever think that this would be the result of this summit if he would not have been re-elected president? … I think he deserves all the praise.”

Finnish President Alexander Stubb: “We’re witnessing the birth of a new NATO … This is a big win, I think, for both President Trump and I think it’s also a big win for Europe.”

Polish President Andrzej Duda: “Without the support and without the leadership of Donald Trump, it would be impossible.”

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal: “It’s a historic moment that we will be ramping up defense expenditure to five percent. I strongly, and Estonia strongly, support it.”

Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen: “I think he’s exactly right when he says that Europe needs to spend more.”

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas: “Allies seem to be united. I think the understanding is everybody needs to do more for defense because we are living in very turbulent times.”

Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski: “We should give credit where credit is due. President Trump was right in his first term when he said that allies were not fulfilling their own commitments from previous summits.”

CNN’s Joseph Ataman and Clare Sebastian: “A diplomatic masterstroke.”

POLITICO.eu: “Big win for Trump”

Associated Press: “After less than 24 hours on the ground in the Netherlands, Trump headed back to Washington having secured a major policy change he’s pushed for since 2017: a significant boost in defense spending by other NATO countries.”

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board: “Trump Wins the Battle of NATO”

Foreign affairs analyst Jasmine El-Gamal: “It’s something that Trump is going to tout as an achievement, and he wouldn’t be wrong in doing so … It was clear that Trump is the mover and shaker and that he sets the tone and agenda.”

Le Monde: “Trump triumphant after NATO leaders agree on defense spending hike”

De Volkskrant (Amsterdam, The Netherlands): “Rebirth of NATO”
Der Standard (Vienna, Austria): “At the urging of US President Donald Trump, NATO members are committing to massively increasing defense spending.”
Algemeen Dagblad (Rotterdam, The Netherlands): “US President Donald Trump and NATO chief Mark Rutte can look back on a successful NATO summit … History was made in The Hague.”
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Frankfurt, Germany): “NATO commits to a five percent target”

A bipartisan group of lawmakers also hailed the news:

Speaker Mike Johnson: “NATO countries bumping defense funding from less than 2% to 5%! No more free rides for the rest of the world. No more using the American taxpayer as their own personal piggy banks. THIS is the Trump effect.”

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Jim Risch: “@NATO’s commitment to raise defense spending to 5% is a tremendous achievement. Thank you to @realDonaldTrump, @SecGenNATO, and our allies who worked to achieve this outcome. New investments in defense and industrial cooperation will strengthen the core pillar of NATO. Now, we must continue to push forward as an alliance and focus on the task of fulfilling this pledge.”

Sen. Ted Budd: “Thanks to @POTUS, our NATO Allies have agreed to an increased annual defense investment of 5% of GDP — long the target. It’s about time Europe pays its fair share for our collective defense. Investments in military capabilities will enhance deterrence amid rising threats.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy: “A stronger alliance makes for a safer world. President Trump successfully pushed our NATO allies to increase their investment in defense spending from 2% to 5% of GDP. When America is strong, the world is safer.”

Sen. Chris Coons: “This will be remembered as a landmark summit. The agreement to spend 5 percent is a significant step forward toward a shared commitment to our collective security.”

Sen. John Cornyn: “Astonishing news out of the NATO summit: Allies have agreed to devote 5% of their economies to military spending, up from the current 2% floor.”

Sen. Ted Cruz: “NATO’s commitment to step forward and invest more would’ve never happened without President Trump’s leadership. Strong American leadership has returned.”

Sen. Steve Daines: “A strong President and a strong America makes a difference yet again on the world stage: Nearly every NATO nation is pledging to increase defense spending to 5% of their GDP. The world is safer today thanks to @POTUS.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham: “Congratulations to President Trump and his team on a highly successful NATO summit. Virtually all NATO nations pledging to increase defense spending to 5% of their GDP is historic and a game changer, making the alliance stronger and America safer. Thank you to our NATO allies and well done, @POTUS.”

Sen. John Kennedy: “President Trump has awakened our NATO friends from their slumber—and they’re finally taking their defense spending goals more seriously.”

Sen. Dave McCormick: “In 2014, just three of NATO’s member countries met the 2% of GDP defense spending commitment. Thanks to the leadership of @POTUS, that number is now 23. The declaration to raise spending to 5% by 2035 will ensure the future needs of the transatlantic alliance are met and that our allies are paying their fair share.”

Sen. Rick Scott: “Great to see @POTUS’ leadership and great success recognized by @SecGenNATO! Thanks to President Trump, peace through strength is BACK, and our NATO allies are paying their fair share to keep the world safe.”

Sen. Dan Sullivan: “I’ve long said our NATO allies need to pay their fair share and I’m thankful President Trump is finally getting them to pony up.”

Sen. Thom Tillis: “This is great news. For NATO to be successful, it is important for our allies and partners to pay their fair share of dues. Yet another victory secured under @POTUS Trump!”

Sen. Todd Young: “NATO is important to our global security and stability, but the U.S. cannot shoulder the majority of the burden given the threats we face. Today, our allies committed to contributing more to our common defense. Thank you, @POTUS, for leading the way.”

Rep. Mike Bost: “President Trump has made clear that all freedom loving nations have a responsibility to shoulder the load for protecting our values in a dangerous world. For far too long, the United States carried a disproportionate financial weight at NATO, while allies failed to pay their fair share. But that changed yesterday. Thanks to President Trump’s bold leadership, NATO countries almost universally have committed to increasing their defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. This is a major victory for American taxpayers and a safer world.”

Rep. Ken Calvert: “NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is absolutely correct. President Trump’s leadership is responsible for strengthening NATO, getting our European allies to expand their commitments, and improve the security of our important alliance.”

Rep. Eli Crane: “The free ride is over.”

Rep. Neal Dunn: “@NATO countries agree to increase defense spending from 2% of GDP to 5% of GDP. This represents the most decisive move by our allies in more than a decade. With this action, the Alliance will be stronger than ever!”

Rep. Pat Fallon: “A stronger NATO will stop future conflicts before they start.”

Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez: “After four years of Biden-Harris failures, the United States is respected once again on the world stage. Thank you, @POTUS”

Rep. Mark Green: “The fact that nearly all of our NATO allies agreed to increase defense spending to 5% is a major victory for President Trump. This shift in burden-sharing will ensure that the United States and our allies are greater prepared to deter Chinese, Russian, and Iranian aggression.”

Rep. Lance Gooden: “✅ NATO members commit to increasing defense spending to 5% of GDP ✅ Ceasefire between Iran and Israel … The adults are back in charge and the world RESPECTS President @realDonaldTrump!”

Rep. Brett Guthrie: “Huge win for peace through strength on the world stage at the NATO Summit. The 5% defense spending commitment by almost all member countries is exactly what is necessary to counter our adversaries. Thank you @POTUS for leading the charge!”

Rep. Wesley Hunt: “Huge win for the United States comes following the NATO meeting. Other countries will now contribute 5% toward NATO! The United States will no longer fund the security of the entire world. President Trump is putting America FIRST!”

Rep. Jim Jordan: “Thank goodness we had President Trump at the NATO Summit instead of President Biden. America is back and more powerful on the world stage!”

Rep. Frank Lucas: “At today’s NATO summit, @POTUS displayed to the world America’s renewed and rightful place as the dominant global superpower. He delivered peace to a region plagued by conflict, leant needed support to our friends in Israel, and instilled fear in our adversaries. I thank President Trump for his continued legacy of peacebuilding and for reinforcing that peace through strength is a necessary component of American foreign policy.”

Rep. Michael McCaul: “For too long, the U.S. has carried the financial and military burden for NATO. That’s going to change, thanks to today’s extraordinary commitment from NATO countries to increase to 5% defense spending. Bravo, President Trump!”

Rep. Mike Turner: “I applaud strong leadership of President Trump in convincing our European & Canadian partners of their shared responsibilities to peace and security, not just in words but of investments in collective defense.”

Rep. Tony Wied: “It’s well past time our allies in NATO pay their fair share. President Trump is making sure Americans no longer have to foot the bill for other nation’s defense. America First”

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