2025 NATO Summit: Trump Subdued, Yet Still Committed to Doing His Master’s Bidding
- john raymond
- Jun 25
- 3 min read
The 2025 NATO summit in The Hague showcased one of the most remarkable examples of alliance theater: Donald Trump arrived as a potential disruptor but left subdued—hailed for his presence and the pledge of 5 % defense spending by 2035, yet still silent on Ukraine’s core security needs. He publicly embraced NATO solidarity—forced by political reality and the collective will of allied leaders—but quietly refused to recommit to Ukraine. That refusal lays bare who he is: a ruler in name only, still bound by the strategic imperatives of his unseen master in the Kremlin.
1. Trump Awed by Unity, Yet Withheld on Ukraine
European leaders greeted Trump with praise, royal treatment, and stage-managed flattery. For a moment, he seemed overwhelmed, even mollified—fitting snugly into the role NATO had created for him. He praised the lobby of heads of state, elevated American leadership, and reenforced Article 5 unity. But the unity had a glaring absence: Ukraine. The Summit communiqué famously omitted reaffirmation of Ukraine’s NATO future and provided minimal mention of Russia’s war.
2. He Promoted Spending—But Not Values
Trump secured a headline-grabbing defense-spending deal—European nations pledged to reach 5 % of GDP by 2035, with some earmarking 1.5 % toward readiness and infrastructure. While his push appeared patriotic, it served a second purpose: consolidating a Trump-centered narrative of military strength—one that glossed over his continued deference to Moscow. Notably, he singled out Spain for lagging behind and threatened trade reprisals, reinforcing his dominance and ignoring fundamentals like collective values or shared purpose.
3. Ukraine Was Present—but Not Welcome
Trump’s refusal to clearly endorse Ukraine spoke volumes. He shrank from reaffirming deep and substantive support, offering only “air defense systems”—a weak echo of truly decisive backing. His planned meeting with Zelenskiy was downgraded to a sideline chat rather than a summit moment, betraying the fact that Trump still hates Ukraine because of its refusal to submit to Russia—an act that makes his own subservience to Putin look all the more craven.
4. The Kremlin Puppet Show
Trump’s political instincts, honed in symbiosis with Kremlin strategies, pushed him to reinforce NATO’s structure while refusing to cement its democratic bedrock: Ukraine’s defense. His restraint was not neutrality; it was strategy—intended to show his dominance over Europe, while not directly undermining Putin’s objectives.
5. Rutte’s Role: Courtier to the Compromised
Mark Rutte stood at the summit’s center as NATO’s emissary for both unity and caution. He framed Trump’s presence as a diplomatic triumph—while quietly managing allied expectations that Trump's take on Ukraine’s fate would not be up for rebuke. Rutte’s public praise of Trump masked a deeper reality: NATO countries are keeping the alliance together in spite of Trump, not because of him.
6. What This Means for Alliance Integrity
Unified spending, fractured purpose: The arbitrary 5 % spending pledge reflected strength in numbers, but the absence of substance on Ukraine highlights deep political fractures.
Sort of solidarity: Leaders agreed on Article 5—but when pushed on Ukraine and Russia, new ambiguity entered the room.
Temporary pact: This was a radical example of “managed unity”—a momentary pause in a deeper discord, but not a lasting reset.
So Trump Was Subdued but Subservient to Russia
Trump's time in The Hague was not a pivot toward transatlantic leadership—it was at best a liminal moment. He accepted NATO solidarity because he had to, but he refused to save Ukraine because he—as a Russian asset—can’t.
That refusal is the real story—and it reveals the deepest truth: Trump's sovereignty is theatrical. His real allegiance lies with Putin's agenda—destabilizing, distracting, and diluting transatlantic resolve.
Until NATO recognizes this and acts accordingly, Trump's presence will continue to be a danger masked by pomp. The solidarity showed on stage may last for a weekend—but it won’t withstand the long test of true alliance when it matters most.
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