Donald Trump is “totally committed” to Nato’s Article 5 clause, the military alliance’s secretary general has insisted, despite the US president saying the mutual defence pact was open to interpretation.
Mr Trump refused to say whether he would comply with the principle of collective defence, which is at the very heart of Nato’s founding treaty, as he arrived in The Hague for the summit today.
“Depends on your definition. There are numerous definitions of Article 5. You know that, right? But I’m committed to being their friends. I’m committed to saving lives. I’m committed to life and safety,” he said last night.
But speaking to reporters ahead of the summit this morning, Mark Rutte, the secretary general of Nato, said: “For me, there is absolute clarity that the United States is totally committed to Nato, totally committed to Article 5.”
Leaders at the summit are expected to formally approve plans to boost defence spending to 5 per cent in a bid to placate Mr Trump, who this year cast doubts over his willingness to defend allies “if they don’t pay”.
