From Iran to The Hague: Trump’s Airstrikes Reshape NATO’s Defense Doctrine

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte sent a rare personal commendation to President Donald Trump on Tuesday, June 24, 2025,  lauding the U.S. air strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities as a bold and necessary move.

Sharing the message on his Truth Social platform before departing for the NATO summit, Trump highlighted Rutte’s praise: “It makes us all safer.”

A Message of Thanks and Geopolitical Strategy

In his note, Rutte offered a striking endorsement:

“Congratulations and thank you for your decisive action in Iran, that was truly extraordinary, and something no one else dared to do,”
adding,

“Donald, you have really driven us to a really, really important moment for America and Europe, and the world… Europe is going to pay in a BIG way as they should, and it will be your win.”

He also praised Trump’s role in rallying NATO members around a new defense spending target, tweeting that the President was “flying into another big success in The Hague … It was not easy, but we’ve got them all signed onto 5 percent.”

Trump’s Own Words—Bold and Brash

Trump amplified Rutte’s message by reposting it with approval on Truth Social, framing the strikes as both a policy victory and a diplomatic coup.

This aligns with the broader narrative he is pushing at the NATO summit—of decisive leadership that moves wary allies into action.

As NATO debates a 5 percent GDP defense target, Trump has emphasized that the U.S. commitment should hinge on real burden-sharing.

Echoing Rutte’s official speaking points just before the summit, the President insists that America should not bear the cost alone, a consistent thread in his NATO engagement strategy

NATO Summit: Security or Strain?

The summit in The Hague is tightly focused, largely on cementing this 5 percent defense commitment.

According to Rutte, “NATO has no opt‑out, and NATO does no side deals… It is critical that each ally carries their fair share of the burden.”

Yet, tensions remain.

Spain reportedly struck a deal exempting itself from the target, while countries like Belgium, Canada, France, and Italy have expressed concerns over the practicality of escalating defence budgets by billions of dollars .

Rutte himself acknowledged the uphill battle, warning that, for some members, reaching 5 percent will be a “long road ahead.”

Iranian Strikes: Uniting or Dividing NATO?

Trump’s role in coordinating U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear targets has turned NATO’s summit into a flashpoint.

The operation, branded a strategic success by Trump and endorsed by Rutte, is designed to unite the alliance.

However, it risks deepening divides if allies perceive NATO as veering into operational support.

Rutte’s praise underscores a shared view among NATO leadership: confront Iranian nuclear ambitions head-on and use that pressure to force European security commitments.

But some member states worry overt U.S.-NATO unity on Iran could alienate other global partners or over-militarize the alliance framework.

Burden-Sharing Takes Center Stage

Rutte’s statement marks a significant turning point.

Historically, NATO has flagged 2 percent of GDP as a defense benchmark, but resistance to higher spending persisted across Europe and Canada.

The current push for 5 percent is unprecedented and reflects escalating strategic anxieties toward Russia and China.

It also reflects post-Iran strikes in line with nuclear proliferation and regional instability

Trump’s Summit Legacy

As Trump arrives in The Hague, he enters as both thunderbolt and unifier, criticized for recent unilateral strikes yet applauded for achieving collective buy-in.

For Trump, Rutte’s message is validation; for NATO, it’s a double-edged sword—a reminder that American influence can still drive alliance cohesion, even if it stirs debate.

The coming days at the summit will test whether allies can turn this momentum into both consensus and credible defence modernization.

Takeaways

Rutte praises strikes: Acknowledge Trump’s decisive action in Iran, framing it as historic leadership.

5 percent defence pledge: NATO gears up for unprecedented collective funding commitments.

Burden-sharing spotlight: U.S. influence pushes Europe to recalibrate military spending amid global threats.

Summit test: NATO’s unity may hinge on reconciling diverse member priorities, with Trump’s influence entering uncharted territory.

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