3 w. ago NATO chief Mark Rutte battles fierce backlash after calling Donald Trump 'Daddy'

Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary General, referred to Donald Trump as 'Daddy' as he praised the US president's approach to the Iran-Israel ceasefire in reference to Trump's F-bomb tirade on live TV

Politics

3 w. ago Trump hails ‘big win’ as Nato states agree to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP

US president appears relaxed and reaffirms commitment to military alliance – though Spain criticisedA relaxed Donald Trump said Nato’s decision to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP was a “big win” for western civilisation in a digressive press conference at a summit in The Hague where he reaffirmed the US’s commitment to the military alliance.There was every sign that the careful setup of the summit – in which most allies in Europe and Canada committed billions more on defence – had worked to keep Trump bound in to the alliance, with the US president praising Mark Rutte, its secretary general, and a night where he “slept beautiful” in the Dutch king’s palace. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump praises Nato leaders’ ‘historic’ agreement to hike defence spending

Prime minister Keir Starmer said this week’s Nato summit had sent a ‘decisive message to aggressors’ as allies ramped up their defence spending

Politics

3 w. ago NATO chief bizarrely calls Trump ‘daddy’ as he tries to brush off F

NATO chief referred to Trump as ‘daddy’ while praising his intervention with Iran and Israel

Politics

3 w. ago Nato leaders confirm defence spending will rise to 5% of GDP and say support for members is ‘ironclad’ – Europe live

New defence spending target will be realised by 2035, Nato countries sayAsked about his commitment to Nato’s Article 5, Trump says:We are with them all the way. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump praises Nato states as summit prepares to lift defence spending target

‘Nato’s going to become very strong with us,’ says US president, as secretary general calls him ‘daddy’Europe live – latest updatesDonald Trump praised Nato countries for being willing to lift defence spending to 5% in his first public remarks at the military alliance’s annual summit, and said that he expected the US to be fully in support.The president was speaking at a preliminary press conference in The Hague that was dominated by his rejection of overnight reports that Iran’s nuclear sites were not destroyed in US bombing, and where he was also praised by the Nato chief, Mark Rutte, for being the “daddy”. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump confirms commitment to Article 5 at Nato summit and praises 5% defence spending pledges as ‘big news’ – Europe live

US president dismisses speculation about his commitment to Article 5 and celebrates defence spending pledges in EUAsked about his commitment to Nato’s Article 5, Trump says:We are with them all the way. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump arrives in Europe for annual Nato summit after Rutte praises his ‘decisive action in Iran’ – live updates

US president arrives in Amsterdam, where he is expected to take victory lap over apparent conclusion of Israel-Iran conflictIt’s Richard Luscombe in the US taking over from my colleague Tom Ambrose, and I’ll be here to guide you through the day’s political developments.The conflict consuming Israel and Iran is dominating headlines, and you can follow happenings in our Middle East crisis liveblog here.Right now, the bill is held together with happy thoughts and spit. I think we’ll eventually pass something, I just can’t tell you when. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump heads to annual Nato summit after Rutte praises his ‘decisive action in Iran’ – live updates

Nato secretary general congratulated and thanked Trump for action in Iran, calling it ‘truly extraordinary’ and ‘something no one else dared to do’It’s Richard Luscombe in the US taking over from my colleague Tom Ambrose, and I’ll be here to guide you through the day’s political developments.The conflict consuming Israel and Iran is dominating headlines, and you can follow happenings in our Middle East crisis liveblog here.Right now, the bill is held together with happy thoughts and spit. I think we’ll eventually pass something, I just can’t tell you when. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Trump shows off fawning message from NATO chief praising him for Iran strikes after ceasefire rant: Live updates

LIVE UPDATES: Donald Trump warned the warring sides to 'please not violate' the ceasefire last night, declaring that it marked a new chapter of 'world peace'.

Events

3 w. ago Trump ‘flying into big success’ at Nato summit, claims Rutte who praises his ‘decisive action’ in Iran – Europe live

US president shares screenshot of congratulatory text message from Nato chief as he travels to summit in The HagueAnalysis: Summit set to be triumphant for Trump but deflating for UkraineWhittaker also says that he is expecting US president Donald Trump “might deliver some remarks” on his views on the summit, as he stresses that “we need to make sure that everyone’s investing in the common defence of the Alliance.”“I don’t want to sort of steal what he might say, nor do I claim to be able to read his mind and know what he’s going to say. But I think he has demonstrated through, again, decisive action leading to peace.”“And again, that’s good for Europe, because there’s been a lot of irregular flows of migrants through Europe, from the Middle East because of the instability. And so hopefully, with Syria now appearing to be stable, with Iran, maybe in check a little more than they had been, I think we could really see a generational moment here where the Middle East is more stable tha...

Politics

3 w. ago Nato chief Rutte praises Trump for making Europe ‘pay in a BIG way’

US president releases flattering message that also hails ‘truly extraordinary’ Iran strikes

Politics

3 w. ago Trump shows off fawning message from NATO chief praising him for 'extraordinary' Iran strikes after F

LIVE UPDATES: Donald Trump warned the warring sides to 'please not violate' the ceasefire last night, declaring that it marked a new chapter of 'world peace'.

Politics

3 w. ago Nato’s Mark Rutte praises Donald Trump for making Europe ‘pay in a BIG way’

US president releases flattering message from secretary-general that also hails ‘truly extraordinary’ Iran strikes

Politics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer won't say where £30BILLION A YEAR of extra defence cash will come from as he joins Nato summit vowing to hit target for spending 3.5% of GDP

Keir Starmer insisted the government will say 'precisely' how it will fund the goal of spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence at a later stage.

Economics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer heads for crucial Nato summit TODAY vowing to hit new target for spending 3.5% of GDP on defence... but ministers refuse to say where the extra £30BILLION is coming from

Keir Starmer will join fellow leaders from the military alliance in The Hague after signing up to the goal of spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence.

Politics

3 w. ago Armed by America: how Europe’s militaries depend on the US – a visual analysis

The EU wants independence on defence but it is buying thousands of weapons from the US each yearEuropean leaders will meet with Donald Trump at a Nato summit on Tuesday, as the alliance prepares to approve a significant boost to defence spending. A new target for every member to spend 5% of GDP – more than double Nato’s current benchmark – marks a major win for the US president, who has long railed against America footing the bill for Europe’s security.That concern is now increasingly mutual. European governments are pursuing an unprecedented push for military independence, amid fears the US is no longer a reliable ally. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Defence spending target of 5% GDP a ‘quantum leap’ in security, says Nato’s Rutte– Europe live

Ukrainian president to hold talks with UK PM after meeting with kingFor more updates on the Israel-Iran war, including US president Donald Trump’s call to “make Iran great again”, you can also follow our live blog here run by Jane Clinton:Let’s stop for a moment on that question of the EU-Israel association agreement, which sees Spain calling for immediate suspension of the deal, while Germany appears to be distancing itself from it. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Nato to unveil new 5% defence spending target this week, chief indicates

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is among the world leaders expected in The Hague in the Netherlands this week for the Nato summit.

Events

3 w. ago Norway backs Nato’s 5% defence spending target despite Spain rejecting it as ‘unreasonable’ – Europe live

PM Jonas Gahr Støre declared Norway’s support for the 5% target proposed by Nato’s secretary general Mark RutteIn Berlin, meanwhile, a German government spokesperon said that Iran will probably be a topic of discussion at next week’s Nato summit in The Hague.“We do not comment on allies’ possible attack plans,” the spokesperson said, referring to US president Donald Trump saying he would decide within two weeks whether his country would join Israeli strikes. Continue reading...

Events