WASHINGTON — NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday as the two sought to address strains within the transatlantic alliance ahead of a NATO leaders’ summit scheduled for next month in Turkey.
The meeting came amid disagreements between Washington and several European allies over defense spending, U.S. military commitments in Europe and support provided during the recent conflict involving Iran. NATO said Rutte's visit to Washington, which runs from June 23 to June 25, included talks with Trump and senior administration officials as alliance members prepare for the July 7-8 summit in Ankara.
Trump has repeatedly urged NATO members to increase defense expenditures and has voiced frustration that European allies do not contribute enough to collective security. The issue has become more prominent as the Pentagon reviews the size and structure of the U.S. military presence in Europe.
During a public appearance before their meeting, Trump praised Rutte personally while renewing criticism of some allied governments. According to media reports, Trump said the United States had been “let down” by several European partners during the Iran conflict. Rutte responded by emphasizing support provided by allies and highlighting increases in defense spending across the alliance.
Rutte has made burden-sharing a central theme ahead of the NATO summit. Speaking in Brussels last week, he said allies must continue increasing defense investment and strengthen military production capacity. “We need more forces, more resources and a much stronger industrial base,” Rutte told reporters before a meeting of NATO defense ministers.
The discussions also took place against a backdrop of political tensions within Europe. On Tuesday, Italy publicly criticized remarks by Rutte regarding the use of U.S. military bases in Italy during operations connected to Iran, underscoring sensitivities among alliance members over military cooperation and public messaging.
European leaders have meanwhile sought to project unity ahead of the Ankara summit. Leaders from Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Poland met in Berlin this week and reaffirmed support for a strong transatlantic partnership while acknowledging recent disagreements.
NATO officials say the Ankara summit will focus on defense spending, force readiness, industrial production and support for Ukraine. Alliance members are also expected to discuss adjustments to NATO force commitments and the future role of U.S. forces in Europe.
As of Thursday, neither NATO nor the White House had announced major policy changes resulting from the meeting. Officials said preparations for the July summit were continuing, with alliance leaders expected to address outstanding disputes during the gathering in Ankara.
