Using flattery, Rutte tries to ease NATO tensions with Trump over Iran

June 25, 2026 10:04 AM

Using flattery, Rutte tries to ease NATO tensions with Trump over Iran

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte sought to calm tensions with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday, using a mix of flattery and gentle pushback to argue that instances of allies' reluctance to support the U.S. war with Iran were limited to "isolated cases." The NATO chief is visiting Washington to try to ease strains over the Iran war and U.S. threats to draw down troops in Europe ahead of a pivotal NATO leaders' summit in July in Ankara. Trump, a longtime NATO critic who ha...

NATO’s Rutte says Europeans have ‘gotten message’ from Trump

May 4, 2026 12:34 PM

NATO’s Rutte says Europeans have ‘gotten message’ from Trump

European nations have "gotten the message" from U.S. President Donald Trump and are now ensuring that agreements on the use of military bases are being implemented, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Monday. Trump has accused some NATO nations of not doing enough to support the United States in the Iran war. In a further sign of his discontent with European allies, the U.S. announced on Friday plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany. "Yes, there has been some disappointment from the...