From NATO critic to supporter: Trump’s surprising alliance turnaround

president Donald Trump threw a resounding support for NATO this week, which represents a sharp shift in his years ago, and is often controversial with the alliance.

Trump, who was known to bomb allies on defensive spending and even threatened to withdraw from NATO, had a change in the heart.

“I left here differently. I left here saying that these people really love their countries,” Trump said after the NATO summit in 2025 in The Hague.

The axis comes as NATO countries doubled more than twice the goal of spending on collective defense – raising the tape from 2 % to 5 % of GDP.

World leaders flow to Trump’s meeting at the NATO summit

From hostile speech to royal receptions

The renewed president of the coalition follows years of friction, prominent clashes with world leaders and controversial comments. However, at the height of this year, the tone was remarkably different.

Trump was welcomed by members of the Dutch royal family, praising the Secretary-General of NATO-who referred to him even in the name of “my father”-promised to the house praising the European allies because of their patriotism. “This is not a rupture, and we are here to help them,” Trump told reporters.

Dramatic shift as unexpected.

Iran: military action with the global influence

Trump reached the NATO summit in a high note, following the strikes that paralyzed the nuclear infrastructure of Iran. According to US intelligence sources and allies, the operation brought back Tehran’s nuclear ambitions for several years.

The strike was widely seen as a display of strength and strategic warning – not only for Iran but to NATO opponents like Russia and China.

World leaders flow to Trump’s meeting at the NATO summit

“It really came from this force’s move,” said Gidas Giglingsas, head of the National Security Committee in Lithuania.

“Among some, certainly Eastern Europe, Central Europe, North Europe, was this attack, and the use of these advanced weapons and launchers was really rebuilding deterrent to the West, not just from America.”

Trump was welcomed by members of the Dutch royal family, praising the Secretary-General of NATO-who referred to him even in the name of “my father”-promised to the house praising the European allies because of their patriotism. “This is not a rupture, and we are here to help them,” Trump told reporters. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)

Table timeline: Trump’s rocky road with NATO

Campaign 2016 path

Trump has repeatedly described NATO as “outdated”, questioning his importance and raising his allies for their failure to push their “fair share”.

“It costs us a lot of money … we are not paying off. It’s too much,” he said in March 2016.

NATO criticized the lack of focus on terrorism, and later assumed credit when he established the main intelligence chief.

February 2017 – Early Presidency

Trump relieved his accent after he became president.

“We support the power of NATO,” he said after visiting the central leadership. “We only ask all members to make their full and sound financial contribution.”

He continued to pay members to face 2 % goal by 2024.

2018 Brussels Summit

Trump from the private sector threatened to withdraw the United States from NATO unless the allies have increased from spending.

He warned, “Now we in World War III protect a country that has not paid its bills.”

Despite the situation, NATO launched a “difficult machine” after extracting new spending obligations. Germany was also accused of being “a prisoner of Russia” on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Trump is heading to the NATO summit, while Europe agrees to pay attention to the demands of defense spending

President Donald Trump, who was filmed with British Prime Minister Kiir Starmer, has cast a resounding support for NATO this week, which represents a sharp shift in his years ago, and is often controversial with the alliance. (AP Photo Kin Cheung, POO)

2019 London Summit

The drama, this time with French President Emmanuel Macron, continued to describe NATO as a “fatal brain”.

“NATO serves a great purpose. I think this is very insulting,” Trump answered.

He also clashed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau-as “two-sided” after Trudeau was arrested mocking Trump on the camera.

2020 – The withdrawal of the forces from Germany

Trump ordered 12,000 American soldiers outside Germany, citing the shortest Berlin defense.

February 2024 – Russia’s controversy

Trump ignited a violent reaction after he suggested that he allowed Russia “doing everything they want against hell” for NATO countries that failed to meet spending obligations.

The note sparked urgent emergency talks between European leaders about the future of the coalition if the United States does not ascend to its defense.

June 2025: Trump is different, NATO is different

The 2025 summit in The Hague was suddenly revealed. Trump’s hosts launched the red carpet. “He is the man of the watch and the most important man in the world,” said Giglsenkas.

Jeglinskas Cassation Trump’s explicit diplomacy – no matter how unconventional – to help lead real reform “” Tktoni’s change has brought to the coalition’s capabilities through … being the same. ” “It is a gift for the alliance.”

Trump receives King William Alexander from the Netherlands and Queen Maxima at Paleis Huis Ten Bosch at the NATO summit. (Brendan Smaliowski – Pool/Getty Images)

Two forces behind NATO revival: Russia and Trump

Experts agreed to activate the last NATO from the main motivation: Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Trump’s pressure is unabated on the allies to reinforce the defense.

““It is great, it is great at the center in the Atlantic Council, which is great. I hope he can continue to do so. “

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He added: “Every president, since Eisenhower complained that NATO allies do not make their fair share.”

Now, Trump was the person who finally made them listen.