(NewsNation) — The head of NATO is expected to speak with President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.
The meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte comes just days after Trump called on European allies to contribute more to the alliance’s defense fund. Trump last week publicly called for other countries to give up to 5% of their GDP.
Trump has made it clear he wants NATO countries to pay much more than the 2% commitment decided upon more than a decade ago. In 2024, an estimated 23 of 32 countries were projected to meet that goal.
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Rutte, who served as prime minister of the Netherlands during Trump’s first term, has also supported increasing NATO members’ funding expectations.
“Our mindset has to be that we are willing to protect every inch of NATO territory … If we would stick to the 2%, we cannot defend ourselves in four or five years. We have to spend more,” Rutte said during a Feb. 12 news conference.
Last week, Trump suggested the U.S. should not have to defend NATO allies he believes have not contributed enough to defense spending.
Elon Musk, one of Trump’s top advisers, said in a social media post that the U.S. should withdraw from NATO altogether and refuse to fund Europe’s defense.
The United States typically spends around 3% of its GDP on defense, meaning a major increase in Pentagon funding would be needed for the nation to meet Trump’s own standards.
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Russia mulls potential ceasefire with Ukraine
Thursday’s conversation comes on the heels of a tentative ceasefire deal in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Ukraine on Monday agreed to accept a deal for a temporary ceasefire with Russia in exchange for the U.S. resuming intelligence sharing and security assistance.
Russia has reportedly given the U.S. a list of demands necessary to end its war against Ukraine, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters.
No specifics have been made public, but the White House has said everyone — Russia and Ukraine included — will have to make some kind of concession to reach a deal.
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“People are going to Russia right now, as we speak, and hopefully we can get a cease fire from Russia. And if we do, I think that would be 80% of the way to getting this horrible bloodbath finished,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
Those headed to Moscow include Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East, NewsNation has learned. It will be his second trip to Russia this year; the first secured the release of Marc Fogel.
Ukraine has repeatedly sought NATO membership, though Russia has vehemently opposed the move.
“The Alliance fully supports Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defence, and its right to choose its own security arrangements. Ukraine’s future is in NATO,” the organization’s Ukraine relations website reads.
