The NATO summit in the Netherlands was brief, consisting of a reception hosted by King Willem-Alexander on 24/6 and a two-and-a-half-hour session with 32 national leaders the following day.
According to AFP, the minimized agenda was intentional, mirroring the most recent NATO leader's meeting Trump attended in London in 2019.
"The meetings were kept short, avoiding contentious issues," said Jamie Shea, a former NATO official involved in planning previous summits. "They are ensuring Trump isn't bored with lengthy meetings, requiring him to stay for hours after his own address.".
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US President Donald Trump at Huis ten Bosch Palace, Netherlands on 24/6. Photo: AFP |
US President Donald Trump at Huis ten Bosch Palace, Netherlands on 24/6. Photo: AFP
In addition to the shortened meetings, the summit's joint statement was also concise. The roughly one-page, five-paragraph document is significantly shorter than the extensive statements of past years.
Prominently featured in the statement is an agreement to increase defense spending, which Trump can consider a major foreign policy win. Meanwhile, disagreements between the US and Europe regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict were largely avoided through diplomatic maneuvering.
One of NATO's biggest challenges was scheduling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a central figure in recent alliance summits. Many European allies wanted to continue signaling strong support for Kyiv.
Zelensky had a heated exchange with Trump and his deputy, JD Vance, at the White House in late February. This made no one want the US and Ukrainian leaders to spend much time together.
NATO ultimately decided to only invite Zelensky to the Dutch King's reception and the industry forum, excluding him from the main session with NATO members.
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NATO leaders pose for a photo before a reception hosted by the King of the Netherlands on 24/6. Photo: AP |
NATO leaders pose for a photo before a reception hosted by the King of the Netherlands on 24/6. Photo: AP
The media noted that despite NATO's meticulous planning, unexpected incidents remain possible.
At his first NATO summit in 2018, Trump publicly criticized Germany and had a frosty exchange with then-Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
In the UK in 2019, the summit was overshadowed by an incident involving then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Trudeau mocked Trump in a private conversation with other leaders, unaware that a distant camera was recording. An angered Trump called Trudeau "two-faced" and canceled his subsequent press conference.
With the Iran-Israel conflict subsiding after a period of escalation, and the US-Europe trade deadlock unresolved, several issues beyond NATO's purview could still overshadow the summit.
Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, AP, Reuters)
