Trump as the dad of world politics”: humor and serious decisions at the NATO summit!

Trump as the dad of world politics”: humor and serious decisions at the NATO summit!

At the NATO summit in The Hague on June 26, 2025, US President Donald Trump attracted media attention with the nickname “Daddy of World Politics” given to him by Dutch NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Rutte emphasized that this expression reflects their close relationship and recognizes Trump for acting as a mediator in the Middle East conflict.

At a press conference, Rutte said that Trump's influence on NATO countries played a key role in the member countries agreeing to increase defense spending to five percent of gross domestic product by 2035. This represents a significant increase since the previous target was two percent. Trump, pleased with this agreement, commented that the ceasefire between Israel and Iran was like a “schoolyard brawl.”

NATO defense spending at record levels

The new defense spending is intended to help develop a stronger military potential against the challenges that exist in the current geopolitical situation, especially in view of Russia's attack on Ukraine. Each member country must spend at least 3.5 percent of GDP on military capabilities to meet core defense requirements. Rutte also praised Trump's role, describing him as a "man of strength and peace" who inspires trust to advance common security interests.

A central theme of the talks was the pressure that Trump is putting on NATO allies to achieve fairer burden sharing. Rutte pointed out that this agreement was created for NATO partners under the clear premise of taking action in the context of Russia's aggressive behavior. The negotiations on defense spending took place under the pressure of time and should be implemented as quickly as possible.

Strong commitment to collaboration

On the sidelines of the summit, Trump also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss a possible peace plan and a ceasefire. Trump said he would begin new talks with Iran next week, underscoring his ongoing efforts to stabilize the region.

The close relationship between Trump and Rutte means that Rutte confidently counters questions about his adulation of Trump, including the “Daddy” vocabulary. He described his statements as a “matter of taste” and reiterated his friendship with Trump and his previous successes in the Middle East conflict. While this mix of humor and seriousness has eased expectations for NATO political meetings, the focus remains on the need to put the new defense spending into action.

Overall, it is clear that the NATO summit is characterized by the search for common ground while at the same time addressing the challenges to security in Europe and worldwide. A strong commitment to cooperation is therefore essential for the future of the alliance.

Further details on the NATO summit and the new defense spending can be found in the reports from vol.at, NBC Los Angeles and daily news to find.