President Donald Trump, known for past disruptions, remained largely restrained as the EU employed what observers called “soft containment.”
At the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, European leaders showcased quiet strength, steering the alliance away from Trump-era turbulence.
President Donald Trump, known for past disruptions, remained largely restrained as the EU employed what observers called “soft containment.”
“Unlike previous NATO gatherings marked by President Trump’s incendiary outbursts, this year’s summit was different,” an analyst noted.
NATO’s landmark agreement to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 answered longstanding U.S. criticisms while redefining deterrence to include cyber-resilience, civil protection, and infrastructure.
New Secretary-General Mark Rutte played a pivotal role, offering continuity and European consensus in managing Trump’s presence. Military and financial backing for Ukraine was deepened quietly, avoiding inflammatory optics.
The summit revealed Europe’s pivot from reactive diplomacy to strategic assertiveness. “Two actors, not one, now cast a shadow,” the report notes, as Europe moves closer to strategic autonomy.
With defence promises made, delivery now becomes the test for Europe’s emerging geopolitical maturity.