NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday to address his resentment with European allies over their refusal to join the Iran war.
With the crunch NATO leaders' summit coming in July, sources tell Euronews Rutte will be on a charm offensive, armed with details of record defence spending across the alliance in response to Trump’s exacting demands that Europeans pay more toward their own security.
He'll also point to positive activity in the US jobs market as defence production increases to meet new demand from Europe and Canada.
“The charts will be written in bold, golden and red font and will show Trump how much of a great leader he is,” said a source. "Rutte will show Trump how his influence at NATO has led to allies reaching $1 trillion in spending overall."
Rutte is well-practised in using flattery to keep Trump onside. At last year's summit, he notoriously referred to Trump as "daddy" in the context of Trump's management of conflict in the Middle East.
