Trump Sticks to Solo Act at NATO Summit After Declaring an Israel‑Iran Ceasefire
Trump Heads to NATO Summit with Fragile Israel-Iran Ceasefire in Hand
Noordwijk, Netherlands (CNN) — When President Donald Trump arrives in the Netherlands on Tuesday for a pivotal NATO summit, he’ll be carrying the weight of a volatile ceasefire between Israel and Iran — one he hopes will bolster his image as a global peacemaker.
The truce, hastily negotiated with Qatari mediation following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, was announced with great fanfare. But just hours before it was set to take effect, Israel accused Iran of launching missiles — a charge Tehran denied — and vowed retaliation. Visibly angry, Trump expressed frustration as he departed Washington.
“We’ve got two countries fighting for so long they don’t even know what the hell they’re doing,” Trump said of Israel and Iran. He blamed both for undermining the deal, while singling out Israel for immediate violations.
Before boarding Air Force One, Trump took a hard line in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pressing him to uphold the agreement. Soon after takeoff, he posted on Truth Social claiming the ceasefire was still intact: “All planes will turn around and do a friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt.”
Trump hopes the agreement — if it holds — will serve as justification for his military intervention, which had drawn mixed reactions in Europe. Critics there feared the airstrikes could trigger a wider war.
Still, Trump claimed success, posting “Congratulations to everyone!” as he declared an end to what he dubbed the “12 Day War.” The ceasefire, he argued, would not have happened without U.S. strikes.
European leaders, who were left out of the negotiations, are now bracing for Trump’s arrival at the NATO summit in The Hague, which has been meticulously planned to avoid conflict with the often-combative president. A brief final communiqué will affirm a new defense spending goal of 5% of GDP — Trump’s demand — though he recently stated the U.S. shouldn’t have to meet it.
“This is meant to be a positive experience for President Trump — recognition for his handling of Israel and Iran, and a recommitment to defense spending,” said former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker.
On his way to the summit, Trump posted screenshots of praise from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, thanking him for his “extraordinary” action in Iran and saying Europe’s increased spending would be “your win.”
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Despite his success in orchestrating a ceasefire, Trump continues to show little appetite for collaboration. He has been skeptical of multilateral groups like NATO and the G7, preferring bilateral diplomacy. “Iran doesn’t want to speak to Europe, they want to speak to us,” Trump told reporters before the bombing.
He even left the recent G7 summit early, skipping talks on Iran, further sidelining European leaders. After the strikes, he declared, “Only American weapons could do what has been done.”
As NATO leaders convene, the alliance faces internal divisions, particularly over Ukraine. Trump plans to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the summit, but Zelensky won’t attend the official session — a symbolic blow to his NATO ambitions, which Trump has previously dismissed.
Trump’s reluctance to impose new sanctions on Russia or approve fresh aid to Ukraine has deepened the rift with Europe. Officials worried he might cancel his NATO appearance altogether to stay focused on the Middle East. But with the ceasefire in place, he decided to attend.
Even now, Trump refuses to fully endorse NATO’s Article 5 collective defense clause. “It depends on your definition,” he said when asked on Air Force One.
Though his pressure on allies has led to increased defense spending, Trump insists more is needed — especially as Europe grapples with two major conflicts: Russia’s war in Ukraine and rising hostilities in the Middle East.
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