This year’s NATO Summit in The Hague comes with certain peculiarities. The main issue — the increase of member states’ defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 — has already been decided, with Spain as the sole exception, having requested and secured specific flexibility.

Also, there is no Summit that practically lasts just three hours, although Secretary General Mark Rutte is organizing a series of side events starting Monday.

The reason for the drastic reduction in the Summit’s duration was clear: so that its main star, U.S. President Donald Trump, would not get bored — this being his first visit to European soil during his second term.

President Trump arrives at the NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands. pic.twitter.com/G4omQLnoFj

— CSPAN (@cspan) June 24, 2025

Until now, Mr. Trump had limited himself to sending his Vice President J.D. Vance, who practically “torpedoed” the Munich Security Conference last February, causing a stir by winking at the Alternative for Germany, then ahead of the German federal elections.

This time, Donald Trump arrives as a… peacemaker, speaking kindly of his “European friends” and pleased that NATO members are agreeing to his long-standing demand for increased contribution to collective defense, with a target that more than doubles the current 2%.

The U.S. President converses with host King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima

The undisputed star of today’s events, President Trump, set foot on Dutch soil last night, shortly after 20:30, heading straight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Huis ten Bosch Palace.

Unaccompanied by his spouse, Mr. Trump is the only leader to be hosted at the royal residence by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima.

Emmanuel Macron kissing the hands of Queen Máxima and Princess Amalia

The meetings and Article 5
There is no doubt Trump will make a “show of strength” at the Summit, which began with leaders’ statements shortly after 10:00 Greek time and will be completed by 15:00.

Mr. Trump is in high demand for meetings and is expected to see several leaders in person. He already met with his old acquaintance Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with whom he also stood side-by-side for the dinner’s group photo.

He is also expected to meet with Volodymyr Zelensky, who is not part of the official Summit proceedings but will stay in The Hague for the one-on-one he requested and secured with the U.S. President.

Some European leaders have already met Mr. Trump, and interestingly, at last night’s dinner, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni — who has close political and personal ties with him — was seated next to him.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a suit

Arriving at the Summit, despite the… air of peace in the Middle East, Trump drew particular attention for his reference to Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty, the clause on collective defense in case of an attack on a member. Asked whether the U.S. remains committed to Article 5, Trump gave a cryptic response:

“It depends on the definition. There are several definitions of Article 5. But I’m committed to being their friend, and I’m committed to saving lives. I’m committed to life and security,” he told the accompanying journalists, clarifying that he would provide a precise definition today at the Summit, not on the back of a plane.

The Greek stance
In this context, Prime Minister Mitsotakis, who also arrived in The Hague last night, comes to the table comfortably regarding the issue of increased NATO member defense spending.

Mr. Mitsotakis has long acknowledged the validity of Trump’s observation dating back to mid-first term, though the war in Ukraine has practically altered the landscape.

In his remarks at today’s Summit, Mr. Mitsotakis is expected to highlight Greece’s stability and reliability as an ally, having upheld the NATO defense spending pledge (2% of GDP) even during the difficult years of the economic crisis, contributing significantly to the Alliance’s capabilities in a critical region for regional and international security.

Mr. Mitsotakis will refer to recent developments in the Middle East and stress that Greece spends 3% of its GDP on defense, facing multiple security challenges.

Thus, Greece belongs to NATO’s core group of countries that have exceeded the current 2% commitment, ranking 5th among NATO countries in defense spending as a percentage of GDP. The Prime Minister is also expected to mention Greece’s 12-year, €25 billion armaments program.

Mr. Mitsotakis is expected to meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines, and perhaps other leaders, though no official one-on-one with Turkish President Erdoğan is planned.

Heads of state and government of NATO in the family photo in front of Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague

The leaders’ dinner menu
The NATO leaders did not miss the chance last night to gather for a group photo before dining with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands at the impressive Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague.

A red carpet was laid out for the NATO leaders’ arrival, and after the family photos, they sat down to dinner in the palace’s stunningly luxurious hall.

The royal dinner menu
The menu began with seared tuna with a caramelized crust, accompanied by Amsterdam pickle mousse, chives, cream, and crispy onions.

The main course featured beef fillet with chanterelle mushroom sauce, asparagus, and “pommes paolo” potatoes.

Dessert was a chocolate tart with soft caramel, tonka seeds, and vanilla sauce.

The dinner was accompanied by a selection of wines: a 2022 Meursault, a 2005 Saint-Émilion, and a 2012 champagne.