Thursday, January 22, 2026-NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte has taken a surprisingly positive tone toward President Donald Trump’s leadership, telling European audiences that the continent should “be happy” Trump is in charge because his pressure has pushed NATO allies to strengthen their own defence commitments.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Rutte credited Trump with forcing major European powers including France, Italy, and Spain to finally meet long‑standing targets for defence spending after years of lagging behind agreed benchmarks. According to Rutte, without Trump’s insistence, many countries would not yet be allocating at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product to defence.
Rutte acknowledged that his defence of Trump is not popular with all European leaders but argued that the outcome has tangible benefits for European security. He noted that NATO members had agreed to raise defence spending significantly with a long‑term commitment to reach as much as 5 percent of GDP by 2035 and insisted that Trump’s relentless criticism was a key driver behind this shift. In Rutte’s view, the result is a Europe better prepared to share the burden of collective security, rather than relying almost exclusively on the United States.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Trump and several European allies over issues like the proposed U.S. interest in Greenland and differing approaches to transatlantic cooperation.
While many European officials have pushed back against Trump’s rhetoric and tactics, Rutte’s comments underscore a contrasting perspective within NATO leadership that sees strategic gains in the alliance’s evolution. His message that Trump’s tough stance has catalysed European action adds a provocative new layer to debates over the future of NATO and transatlantic relations.
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