Trump rattles Nato allies over Article Five clause as he descends on summit
US President Donald Trump arriving for a dinner hosted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander on June 24, ahead of the two-day Nato summit in the Netherlands. PHOTO: REUTERS
Trump rattles Nato allies over Article Five clause as he descends on summit
THE HAGUE - US President Donald Trump swept into Nato's Hague summit on June 24, with allies hoping a pledge to ramp up defence spending will keep the mercurial leader of the military superpower committed to protecting them.
Mr Trump joined leaders from Nato's 31 other members to kick off the two-day gathering with a dinner hosted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander in the ornate Orange Hall at his royal residence.
The alliance hopes to keep Mr Trump bound to its mutual defence vow by meeting his demand for a headline figure of 5 per cent of GDP on defence spending.
But Mr Trump refused to say he was committed to Nato's Article Five clause and protecting Europe in comments that will likely rattle his counterparts on the continent.
'Depends on your definition. There's numerous definitions of Article Five,' Mr Trump told journalists aboard Air Force One. 'I'm committed to being their friend.'
To keep Mr Trump on board, Nato's 32 countries have thrashed out a compromise deal to dedicate 3.5 per cent to core military needs by 2035, and 1.5 per cent to broader security-related areas such as cybersecurity and infrastructure.
Nato says the military build-up is crucial to deter Russia, which officials warn is rapidly rebuilding its forces depleted by the war in Ukraine and could be ready to attack the alliance in five years.
But it is just as important for keeping Mr Trump engaged as Washington warns it may shift forces from Europe to face the threat from China.
'They're going to be lifting it to 5 per cent, that's good,' Mr Trump said. 'It gives them much more power.'
But while the promise of more spending could win Mr Trump over, deep divisions remain over the approach to Europe's key security issue: Russia's war in Ukraine.
Mr Trump said he would probably meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky while in The Hague, with Kyiv hoping it can avoid a repeat of the pair's infamous Oval Office bust-up.
'Radical uncertainty'
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen told an audience in The Hague that Nato's 'historic' spending pledge showed that 'the Europe of defence has finally awakened'.
Alliance leaders meanwhile – many of whom are struggling to find the money that will be required – lined up to argue that the threats facing the continent required bold steps.
'We must navigate this era of radical uncertainty with agility,' British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in announcing the UK's commitment to meet the target.
Powerhouse Germany announced plans to hit the 3.5 per cent figure for core defence needs by 2029 – six years before the timeline.
At the other end of the scale, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has risked Mr Trump's ire by insisting his country doesn't have to meet the 5 per cent target.
US President Donald Trump (front row, fourth from left) posing for a family photo with fellow Nato leaders, as well as the Netherlands' King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, upon his arrival for the Nato summit on June 24.
PHOTO: AFP
For its part, the Kremlin attacked Nato for its 'rampant militarisation', with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying: 'This is the reality that surrounds us.'
Trump-Zelensky meeting
Since storming back to power, Mr Trump has upended the West's approach to the three-year conflict by turning his back on Kyiv and opening the door to closer ties with Moscow.
Mr Zelensky was set to play less of a central role than at recent Nato gatherings and will not attend the main working session.
But Ukraine's president said he would discuss with Mr Trump buying a package of weapons made up mainly of air defences.
Mr Zelensky would also push Mr Trump on imposing new sanctions on Russia as Moscow has stalled peace efforts being pressed by Washington, Kyiv said.
'There are no signs that Putin wants to stop this war. Russia rejects all peace proposals including those from the US. Putin only thinks about war,' the Ukrainian leader told a defence forum held alongside the summit.
Mr Rutte said allies would send the message that support for Kyiv was 'unwavering and will persist'.
But despite his insistence that Ukraine's bid for membership remains 'irreversible', Nato will avoid any mention of Kyiv's push to join after Mr Trump ruled it out. AFP
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
29 minutes ago
- AsiaOne
Trump tells Congress that Iran had nuclear weapons programme, contradicting US spy agencies, World News
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump told Congress this week that the Iranian sites bombed by the US housed a "nuclear weapons development programme," even though US spy agencies have said no such programme existed. Trump's claim raised questions whether US intelligence backed up his decision to order the strikes on Iran on Sunday. The Republican president made the assertion in a letter dated Monday to House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, a key ally, and it was posted on the White House's website. "United States forces conducted a precision strike against three nuclear facilities in Iran used by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its nuclear weapons development programme," Trump wrote. The most recent US assessment, presented to Congress in March by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, said Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had not ordered the restarting of a nuclear-weapons effort shuttered in 2003. A source with access to US intelligence reports told Reuters last week that the March assessment had not changed. Iran insists that its nuclear programme is for peaceful uses. President George Bush justified the invasion of Iraq in 2003 by saying intelligence showed the country had weapons of mass destruction. This was later discredited and prompted a political backlash. Trump first cast doubt on intelligence about Iran's nuclear programme last week, when he repudiated the assessment that Gabbard delivered to Congress. "I don't care what she said. I think they were very close to having one," Trump told reporters, referring to a nuclear weapon. Gabbard herself on Friday disputed media accounts of her March testimony, saying on X that US intelligence showed Iran could make a nuclear weapon "in weeks to months" if it chose. According to unclassified US intelligence reports compiled before the strikes, Iran closed a nuclear weapons programme in 2003 — a conclusion shared by the UN nuclear watchdog — and has not mastered all of the technologies required. But Tehran does have the expertise to build a warhead at some point, according to the reports. The US attacked three Iranian nuclear sites — Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow — on Sunday. It hit deeply buried Fordow, where advanced centrifuges could produce low-enriched uranium for nuclear reactor fuel and highly enriched uranium for warheads, with "bunker busting" bombs. Trump and other top officials said the sites were obliterated. But a preliminary US intelligence assessment found the attack set back Tehran's programme by only months, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday. A US official who read the assessment said it contained a number of caveats and a more refined report was expected in the coming days and weeks. [[nid:719454]]
Business Times
an hour ago
- Business Times
Trump's chip tariff threat sparks pushback from auto industry to tech
[WASHINGTON] Blowback to US President Donald Trump's idea of tariffs on imported semiconductors is proving to be broad and deep, stretching from auto companies and boat makers to the technology industry and crypto enthusiasts, according to a review of more than 150 public comments on the proposal. The possible levy of up to 25 per cent has united rivals such as Tesla, General Motors and Ford Motor in voicing reservations. It's brought together industry lobbies from the Crypto Council for Innovation to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. Even Taiwan and the People's Republic of China are finding common cause, along with predictable parts of the tech sector, including chipmakers and wireless providers. The reason is that chips are now in almost everything: refrigerators and microwaves, tyre pressure sensors and navigation systems, electronic bidets and sonar equipment and, of course, smartphones and computers. Tariffs threaten to snarl supply lines and jack up costs for consumers. 'There's a large mismatch between the amount of chips we use in this country in various products and the supply created here in the US,' JoAnne Feeney, a partner and portfolio manager at Advisors Capital Management, said. 'Putting a tax on those imports will simply raise the cost, and that's not a good thing for consumers.' Case in point is the marine association, which warns that the impact would be felt by more than 1,300 manufacturers who face higher expenses for essentials such as propulsion technology, engines and GPS systems. 'These systems are not optional luxuries – they are fundamental to safety, function and performance,' the association said. 'Many components have no US equivalent or are only available from highly concentrated suppliers overseas.' BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The boating sector's concerns were among comments from 154 stakeholders submitted to a Commerce Department review of whether to slap tariffs on chips as part of Trump's campaign to redraw global supply lines and boost domestic manufacturing. Predictable tech sources weighed in, including chipmakers Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Intel. But feedback also landed from a wide spectrum of sectors, along with trading partners such as Japan and Brazil. The companies, trade groups and individuals who commented on the chips investigation largely signalled support for the president's vision of deepening the US manufacturing base and expanding the American workforce. Yet most expressed concern over the potential consequences and urged making any levies that emerge as targeted as possible. Taken together, the filings point to unease across a range of industries about the economic fallout from targeting chips. Trump has so far brushed off many of those concerns and cited plans by a range of companies to invest in the US, including Taiwan-based TSMC's decision to boost its commitment to building plants near Phoenix. White House spokesperson Kush Desai said Trump remains committed to reshoring manufacturing critical to US national security. 'While the Commerce Department completes its Section 232 investigation, the administration is expanding domestic critical mineral production, slashing regulations, and pushing pro-growth policies,' Desai said. The Commerce Department did not respond to a request for comment. In its submission, TSMC highlighted plans for six advanced semiconductor fabs and two packaging facilities along with a research centre as part of a US$165 billion investment in Arizona that's expected to create thousands of jobs. Yet the company warned import levies would make it harder to deliver those projects on schedule, while slowing US efforts to expand domestic production of chips for 5G wireless, artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous driving. 'Additional tariffs or other restrictive measures on semiconductors could reduce the profitability of leading US companies by limiting sourcing options, driving up production costs, and reducing product demand,' TSMC's Arizona subsidiary wrote. In its filing, Tesla urged coordination between government and industry to minimise uncertainty that could upset supply chains, citing its ties to Asia, Europe and Africa. 'These partnerships allow us to focus on increasing US dominance in advanced manufacturing,' the company wrote. 'Impacts to these inputs for which there is insufficient domestic availability will put a strain on resources during a key moment in the global AI race.' Chipmaker Intel cautioned that trading partners could respond with protective measures that exclude American products. Intel is seeking to reverse years of struggle by spending more than US$100 billion to expand its domestic manufacturing, and the company called on the administration to spare US-made wafers as well as any chips made abroad using American technology. A common concern aired by TSMC, Intel and others in the semiconductor industry centred on the risk that chipmaking equipment produced by foreign suppliers such as ASML Holding would get hit with import taxes. A single extreme ultraviolet lithography machine from Netherlands-based ASML, the world's sole provider of the most advanced chipmaking gear, can cost nearly US$400 million. Adding tariffs would significantly boost the cost of equipping new US facilities. ASML submitted feedback to the Commerce Department, but its filing was marked 'business confidential' and unavailable for public review. In its comments, Intel urged exempting such machines, noting that 'the primary cost driver for semiconductor fabs, accounting for two-thirds of total construction expenses, is equipment and machinery'. Replacing semiconductors produced abroad with domestic output would be very difficult, Feeney said. 'It takes years to create the industrial infrastructure to make creating a semiconductor fabrication facility even possible,' she said. 'At a time, we are trying to build up an AI infrastructure of data centres, the last thing you want to do is put a substantial tariff on the most important input into those data centres.' Major US trading partners, already stung by Trump's so-called reciprocal tariffs, objected to the idea of targeting chips, after seeing the auto sector, along with steel and aluminium imports, hit with levies. Taiwan, which produces nearly 90 per cent of the world's most advanced semiconductors, highlighted the complementary role of TSMC foundries that churn out wafers for leading American chip designers Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices. Tariffs on semiconductors or related products from the island 'would severely impair Taiwan's ability to meet the demands of the US semiconductor industry in a timely manner', the Taiwanese government said in its filing. 'This would drive up costs for US companies, raise end-product prices, reduce profitability and revenue, and ultimately weaken the capacity of US firms to invest in R&D and innovation.' BLOOMBERG
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Kenyans brace for protests one year after storming parliament
Pro-government counter-protesters and riot police officers disperse people protesting over the death of Kenyan blogger Albert Ojwang in police custody, in downtown Nairobi, Kenya June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya/File Photo NAIROBI - Kenyans are expected to take to the streets in large numbers on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of anti-government protests that culminated in the storming of parliament and several deaths as police opened fire on demonstrators. Although the protests eventually faded after President William Ruto withdrew proposed tax hikes that had initially sparked the rallies, public anger over the use of force by security agencies has not abated, with fresh demonstrations erupting this month over the death of a blogger in police custody. Six people, including three police officers, were charged with murder on Tuesday over the killing of 31-year-old blogger and teacher, Albert Ojwang. All have pleaded not guilty. The death of Ojwang has become a lightning rod for Kenyans still mourning the deaths of more than 60 people killed during last year's demonstrations and blaming security forces for the fatalities and dozens of unexplained abductions. Police sources told Reuters that a heavy security presence would be deployed around downtown Nairobi, particularly near the presidency, parliament and the central business district. The interior ministry in a post on X on Tuesday warned protesters not to "provoke police" or "attempt to breach protected areas". The unprecedented scenes on June 25, 2024, showing police firing at demonstrators as they broke through barriers to enter parliament, created the biggest crisis of Ruto's presidency and sparked alarm among Kenya's international allies. On Tuesday, the embassies of the United States, Britain, Canada, and other Western nations released a joint statement on X urging all involved to "facilitate peaceful demonstrations and to refrain from violence." "The use of plain clothed officers in unmarked vehicles erodes public trust," the statement said. Rights campaigners condemned the presence of unidentified police officers at protests last year. The embassies also said they were troubled by the use of hired "goons" to disrupt peaceful demonstrations, after Reuters reporters saw groups of men beating protesters with sticks and whips last week. The counter-protesters have defended their actions, telling Reuters that they are not goons but rather patriots protecting property from looters. Two police officers were arrested last week over the shooting of an unarmed civilian during a protest in Nairobi over the death of Ojwang, the blogger. Kenya's police chief initially implied that Ojwang had died by suicide but later apologised after an autopsy found that his wounds pointed to assault as the cause of death. President Ruto said that Ojwang had died "at the hands of the police", which he said was "heartbreaking and unacceptable". REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
