NATO faces critical test as Trump escalates pressure on allies over defense spending and Iran strategy. Secretary General Rutte met with President Trump amid rising tensions over military support commitments. Trump criticized NATO's reluctance to participate in Strait of Hormuz operations and threatened withdrawal from the alliance. The dispute centers on defense spending targets and geopolitical priorities. However, Rutte highlighted that NATO members recently committed to investing five percent of GDP in defense for the first time. The meeting underscored deep transatlantic divisions over burden-sharing and military strategy that could reshape global security alliances and defense spending patterns for years to come.
