NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, November 22, 2024, to address critical global security challenges confronting the Alliance.
During the discussions, both leaders explored a wide range of issues central to NATO’s mission and the evolving global security landscape.
In addition to his meeting with the President-elect, Secretary General Rutte also engaged with Congressman Mike Waltz and members of Trump’s incoming national security team.
NATO stated: “They discussed the range of global security issues facing the Alliance.”
Concerns are mounting across Europe regarding Donald Trump’s potential influence on NATO, given his previous remarks questioning the alliance’s value and suggesting that the U.S. might withhold defense from members not meeting financial commitments. This unease comes as Mark Rutte, who assumed the role of NATO Secretary General in October, met with Congressman Mike Waltz, Trump’s choice for national security adviser, to discuss the alliance’s future. Following their meeting, Waltz emphasized on social media the importance of all NATO members contributing to collective defense in proportion to their economic capacity.
Mark Rutte, formerly the Dutch Prime Minister for nearly 14 years, is considered to have had a more favorable rapport with Trump than many other European leaders during his prior administration. His meeting with Waltz reflects his efforts to navigate potential challenges to NATO cohesion under Trump’s leadership.
Rutte’s diplomatic engagements are set to continue, as he travels to Ankara for discussions with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. These talks are expected to focus on the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to Turkish officials cited by Reuters.
The timing of these meetings is particularly critical, as the conflict in Ukraine has recently intensified. Russia escalated its military campaign last week by deploying a new intermediate-range hypersonic missile against the city of Dnipro, reportedly in response to Ukraine’s use of advanced weaponry supplied by the United States and the United Kingdom.
At the UK Defence Journal, we aim to deliver accurate and timely news on defence matters. We rely on the support of readers like you to maintain our independence and high-quality journalism. Please consider making a one-off donation to help us continue our work. Click here to donate. Thank you for your support!
I’m not a fan of Trump but he has a point. So many NATO countries have failed to pay their way relying on the US for their security.
Pretty well all of them for decades. Only just beginning to get better. Meanwhile what are we facing?
23 out of 32 NATO countries spend at least 2%GDP on Defence. Eight ENATO countries and Canada spends below that level.
It is better than it was.
Agreed, ENATO collectively has increased defence expenditure, however, The Donald’s decision process re NATO will be almost unconstrained by current foreign policy. 🤔😳😱
so 25% of the alliance is still freeloading
Trump looks like a plastic bobblehead.
Hmm, more of a Madame Tussauds sculpture.
That is not a real picture, I’d bet my pension on it.
Mark Rutte is 6 foot 4, Trump is 6 foot 3……………………………big difference in the picture.
Trump presidency is going to interesting, possibly entertaining. Not because I like Trump but because it quite funny watching our political class react, especially as they’re so ideological. Going to be interesting.
Agreed, ENATO collectively has increased defence expenditure, however, The Donald’s decision process re NATO will be almost unconstrained by current foreign policy. 🤔😳😱
A member of trumps national security team (Sebastian Gorman) said on the news a few months ago that trumps plan is to tell Putin (who he calls a thug) to make a deal fair to Ukraine or he will flood Ukraine with so much weaponry it’ll make current aid look like peanuts. Russia has pinned all their hopes on trump coming in and cutting aid- if he does the opposite it will demoralize Russia to a point I don’t know how Russia could possibly choose to continue- considering they are getting torn to pieces for such little gain with just the current aid. Trump has a real opportunity to be remembered as a Ronald Reagan tier president if he can end this war through a position of strength not weakness. He has anti Russian hawks in his cabinet who I’m sure are reminding him of that. This legacy is exactly something trump would absolutely love for himself. So everyone crapping on him (not you- but so many others especially) I’d give the man a chance. Picking Rubio and waltz makes me think Ukraine is going to be taken care of… I’m cautiously optimistic, and that optimism grows by the day.
There are rumors trump gave Biden his support in allowing atacms strikes inside Russia- i don’t think it’s a coincidence that was announced shortly after their meeting together. And I haven’t seen trump criticizing the decision which in itself says a lot, because we know he is not one to keep his mouth shut if he doesn’t like something. So let’s see what happens and give him a chance. Pro Ukrainians crapping on him online is not a smart move- one of his faults is that he is petty. So they’d be smart to encourage him to do the right thing and see how it plays out.
Agree with a lot of that
I was nervous of Trump but as you say he has an opportunity to make a name for himself in ending the Ukraine war in a positive way for Ukraine. If that happens I’d be pleased. You have to credit him with forcing the ENATO members to step up. He brings an unpredictability to everything, if that can work in the favour of those needing help then great. However, it could also go the other way.
Much of the NATO spending uplift is down to Putins invasion bursting the cut-cut-cut “peace” bubble.
Good observation about the ATACMS and Biden-Trump. Very true that Trump and his team said nothing about Biden’s decision.
There are a lot of anti Russian Republicans both in office and out that still have influence in the party. Trump cannot ignore them.
Trump will also run afoul of the American industrial complex which has ramped up military production. This is a huge lobby group and means untold thousands of jobs in the US and the west would be impacted by a sudden cut or diminishing decision.
Trumps son did, said Biden was try to start WW3
Yep. Lammy has been going round in circles ever since, and as for Starmer’s wide eyed look of shock. it never seems to change.
This is a complaint the UK should be raising as well.
The UK spends more resources patrolling the Mediterranean than the North Atlantic, yet not a single country in southern Europe besides Greece meets the 2% spending threshold. Portugal, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Turkey are all below 2%.
I feel like all of Europe should look at what Poland is doing and increase defense spending to at least 4%. For UK to do it, It would probably mean Reeves going back on her promise not to raise taxes. I’d be happy to pay a bit extra if it beefs us up a bit. MoD should the look at buying off the shelf equipment to speed up procurement, just in case.
Agreed
I miss Spitting Image
The USA lunatics have taken over the asylum. What could possibly go wrong?
The Lunatics have been running the asylum for the last four years. It’s already gone wrong.
Is that actually Trump it looks like a waxwork