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Trump Arrives in Netherlands for NATO Summit, With Protection Spending Excessive on Agenda


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This text was initially printed  by The Epoch Instances: Trump Arrives in Netherlands for NATO Summit, With Protection Spending Excessive on Agenda

Trump joined a social dinner on the Royal Palace, hosted by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, quickly after his arrival.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands—President Donald Trump arrived in Amsterdam on Tuesday to attend the NATO summit, which is being held in The Hague from June 24 to 25. Trump acquired off the aircraft at 7:51 p.m. native time, sporting a cap with the phrases “USA” on it.

Shortly after his arrival, Trump joined a social dinner on the Royal Palace, hosted by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. Throughout the occasion, he and different NATO leaders posed for a bunch picture with the Dutch royal household.

Earlier than departing the White Home, Trump spoke to reporters, expressing deep frustration with each Iran and Israel, accusing them of violating the cease-fire deal. Either side exchanged assaults in a single day.

Israel blamed Iran for breaching the cease-fire simply hours after agreeing to the deal, after which launched an assault of its personal on Iran.

Whereas acknowledging Iran’s violation, Trump voiced frustration over Israel’s response early this morning. Aboard Air Drive One en path to the Netherlands, the president confirmed that Tel Aviv agreed to cease its retaliation.

“The cease-fire could be very a lot in impact, and I believe we’re going to maintain it there for a very long time,” Trump instructed reporters on Air Drive One.

At this 12 months’s NATO summit, Trump is hoping to safe a better protection spending dedication from member international locations, a difficulty he has hammered on for years.

The allies are anticipated to agree on a brand new protection spending goal of 5 p.c of gross home product (GDP) for every member nation, greater than doubling the present 2 p.c benchmark.

Trump has lengthy been essential of NATO international locations for not paying their justifiable share to the alliance. Since returning to the White Home in January, he has renewed stress on member states to fulfill greater defense-spending targets.

To handle Trump’s considerations, NATO Secretary-Normal Mark Rutte has proposed a two-tiered plan, which requires allies to allocate 3.5 p.c of GDP to core protection spending and a further 1.5 p.c to infrastructure and industrial capability on an annual foundation.

“I believe we’re going to have stronger peace, higher peace,” Trump instructed reporters, praising the brand new proposal.

“NATO was broke and I mentioned, ‘you’re going to need to pay.’” Trump mentioned, praising his personal efforts, “Now they’re paying rather a lot.”

Spain is the one hold-out up to now. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez introduced final week that his nation wouldn’t decide to the proposed 5 p.c protection spending goal.

On June 21, Sánchez mentioned he had reached a cope with NATO to be excluded from the spending dedication.

Spain allotted almost 1.3 p.c of its GDP to protection in 2024, making it the alliance’s lowest spender.

“There’s an issue with Spain. Spain isn’t agreeing, which could be very unfair to the remainder of the individuals,” Trump mentioned.

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