Trump's strikes on Iran could upend delicate plans for NATO summit deal on defense spending
On Tuesday, two major diplomatic happenings will get underway: the start of a NATO summit in the Netherlands, which President Donald Trump is expected to attend, and the reported beginning of a ceasefire ending the hostilities between Israel and Iran.
The president's decision to unilaterally intervene in the latter could drastically change the former, European officials and commentators suggest.
'Of course, the news about Iran is at this moment, grabbing all the headlines,' NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told reporters on Monday.
NATO leaders had hoped the two-day summit would be short, sweet, and concrete, producing a commitment from the 32 member nations to spend five percent of their GDP on defense, a figure high enough to reverse what Trump sees as decades of Europe freeloading on American defense largesse, reenergizing US interest in the transatlantic alliance after Trump once suggested the US might do its 'own thing' if its allies didn't invest more.
Planners for the event reportedly sought to appeal to Trump by throwing a lavish dinner at the Dutch king's palace and tiptoeing around the role of Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky.
As the war between Israel and Iran intensified, Trump seemed to be charting a different course from his allies on a number of issues.
The US operation to launch strikes on multiple Iranian facilities was underway on Friday even as European diplomats attempted to negotiate with Tehran in Geneva over the war and Iran's supplying of drones to Russia.
The 15-ton US bunker buster bombs that hit Iran's nuclear site at Fordow were another reminder of the vast distance on the Iran issue between Europe and the US, which pulled out of the Iran nuclear deal during Trump's first term.
The same day as Europe was attempting in vain to stall further hostilities with Iran, Trump suggested the US might not need to hit the five percent defense spending target.
'I don't think we should, but I think they should,' Trump said of European nations.
The stance, after months of American tariffs on European nations and quickly eroding support for Ukraine, left some European observers alarmed over what Trump may do if he attends the summit.
'Our American ally has became so elusive and hostile that no one dares to imagine how this NATO summit will unfold,' columnist Sylvie Kauffmann wrote in the French newspaper Le Monde.
Trump is not the only wildcard at the summit.
Last week, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned in a letter to Rutte that his country 'cannot commit to a specific spending target in terms of GDP.'
On Monday, Rutte fired back, insisting NATO members don't have the option for 'opt-out' provisions or 'side deals.'
'The fact is that Spain thinks they can achieve those targets on a percentage of 2.1 percent,' Rutte said. 'NATO is absolutely convinced Spain will have to spend 3.5%, to get there.'
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Scotsman
17 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Why Keir Starmer will pledge 5% defence spending as Israel and Iran agree to Donald Trump ceasefire
Numerous Nato allies are to pledge increased spending on national security, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is to pledge to spend 5 per cent of the UK's GDP on national security by 2035. The looming commitment comes after Israel and Iran agree to a ceasefire ordered by US President Donald Trump. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Prime Minister is heading to The Netherlands for a Nato summit, where 32 member countries are expected to agree to the 5 per cent goal. This includes 3.5 per cent on core defence and 1.5 per cent on defence-related areas such as resilience and security. The pledge is aimed at placating Mr Trump, who has urged his Nato allies to spend more on defence and security. US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. |. Starmer's position Speaking ahead of the two-day summit, the Prime Minister said the UK had to 'navigate this era of radical uncertainty with agility, speed and a clear-eyes sense of national interest'. He said: 'After all, economic security is national security, and through this strategy we will bring the whole of society with us, creating jobs, growth and wages for working people.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This comes after the Prime Minister set out proposals earlier this year to increase the UK's defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by April 2027 and a 'clear ambition' to reach 3 per cent by 2034 if economic conditions allowed. The SNP's view SNP MP Stephen Gethins said he supported more spending on defence, but wanted to see the details of the Nato proposals. SNP MP Stephen Gethins He told the BBC: 'I think we can move towards spending more, but the Prime Minister needs to set out what it is for. Taxpayers rightly should know what it is for. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I have no problem moving towards greater defence spending, but the government needs to set out what it is for rather than just chucking money at a problem.' Mr Gethins said the US was becoming an 'increasingly unreliable partner' and the UK should look towards its European allies. This comes after Mr Trump said a ceasefire was 'now in effect' between Israel and Iran, and told both countries: 'Please don't violate it!' Details of the ceasefire Mr Trump announced the ceasefire at 11pm on Monday night and declared it had come into effect at 6.08am British time. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At 7.10am, Israel agreed to the ceasefire, saying it had 'achieved the objectives' of its attack on Iran and had removed Iran's 'dual immediate existential threat' from nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.' State media in Tehran reported 'a last round of missiles' were fired before the ceasefire came into effect. It says nine people were killed and 33 injured after an Israeli attack in the northern city of Astaneh-ye Ashrafiyeh. Overnight Israel said four people were killed and 22 were injured after an attack in the southern town of Beersheba.
Times
20 minutes ago
- Times
Iran-Israel ceasefire: IDF claims truce breached as missiles launched
Following the apparent breach of the ceasefire, sirens are expected to sound in northern Israel in the coming minutes, the Times of Israel reports, with ballistic missiles said to have been fired from Iran Missiles have been launched from Iran after a US-brokered ceasefire with Israel began, according to Israel's military 'A short while ago, the IDF [Israel Defence Forces] identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel,' a statement from the IDF read. 'Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat.' 'Upon receiving an alert, the public is instructed to enter a protected space and remain there until further notice.' 'Leaving the protected space is only permitted following an explicit directive. Continue to follow the instructions of the Home Front Command.' Families of hostages held in Gaza called for an end to the war there and bring back those in Hamas captivity following the ceasefire with Iran. 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Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in defence and their participation in eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat.' Israel has agreed to Trump's ceasefire proposal with Iran, the Israeli prime minister's office has confirmed. Binyamin Netanyahu's office said it would respond 'forcefully' to any violations, adding that he would deliver a statement later today. 'In light of the achievement of the objectives of the operation, and in full co-ordination with President Trump, Israel has agreed to the president's proposal for a bilateral ceasefire,' a statement read. • Trump announces Israel-Iran ceasefire after attacks on US bases President Trump is expected to fly to the Hague later today for a planned Nato summit. While the conference had been expected to focus on how alliance members are heeding Trump's calls to increase defence spending to five per cent of GDP, the conflict in the Middle East will almost certainly loom large. If a ceasefire appears to hold throughout the day, Trump is likely to take credit for mediating peace between Iran and Israel, arguably his biggest foreign policy achievement yet. However, with Israel yet to confirm the truce, the US leader may be unable to perform his victory lap. Concerns that Trump would talk down Nato during the summit — and discuss withdrawing US troops from Europe while abandoning support to Ukraine — have eased somewhat. President Zelensky has now been invited to a dinner with Nato leaders after fears Ukraine would be blocked from participating in the conference altogether. In the past few hours, Israeli warplanes struck and destroyed missile launchers in western Iran 'ready to be fired at Israeli territory', the military said in a statement. It appeared to refer to a strike before the ceasefire — which has now officially come into effect, according to the US president. Israel has not confirmed the ceasefire. 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After four consecutive missile barrages that sent residents of Tel Aviv rushing to and from shelters, it was unclear if the salvos were a final blast from Tehran or the start of a new round of escalation. Reports that three people had been killed by an Iranian missile in Beersheba, a city in southern Israel, raised fears that an Israeli response would trigger more Iranian attacks. 'I'm tired and slightly disillusioned now because I don't know if this is really the end or not,' said one woman, moments before another all-clear. President Trump announced a 'complete and total ceasefire' between Israel and Iran after 12 days of hostilities, including a symbolic Iranian reprisal strike on a US base in Qatar on Monday. He posted a message on his Truth Social site hailing an end to the war, as Israel continued its attacks on Iran. 'Congratulations to everyone!' he wrote, 'in approximately six hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!' Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, signalled early on Tuesday morning that Tehran was prepared to halt its missile attacks at 4am local time (1.30am UK). However, three consecutive air raid warnings sounded in Tel Aviv a few hours later. 'The military operations of our powerful armed forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am,' Araghchi wrote on social media. 'As of now, there is NO 'agreement' on ceasefire or cessation of military operations. However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards,' he added. In a hotel bomb shelter in Tel Aviv, Australian holidaymakers caught up in Israel's war with Iran were doubtful that a ceasefire would hold. After taking a group photo, one of the them said that she suspected Iran had no intention of sticking to any deal. 'I thought the Iranians might give us the night off after hitting Qatar,' said another as booms were was heard in the city. A missile fired from Iran hit a building in Beersheba, a southern desert city in Israel, destroying a building and killing three people. Initial reports said that people may be buried under the rubble, with others critically injured in the strike at 5.40am local time. Paramedics at the scene were treating three people in critical condition and those who were wounded. Beersheba has been badly hit in the war, with a missile striking the largest hospital in the area last week. Another alarm was sounded after dawn as more missiles were fired. Israelis made their way down to shelters at 5am local time on Tuesday morning, with two consecutive warnings to hunker down. The Israeli military said they identified a launch from Iran towards Israel and sirens blared in central Israel. Booms were heard overhead in the central city of Tel Aviv. As news of a potential ceasefire spread, many people spent the minutes underground checking the news and discussing what the day might hold. When asked if there was going to be a ceasefire, some said that it would only happen if Israel had achieved what they set out to do. A hotel worker said he wasn't sure what would happen next and whether or not there was a ceasefire. 'Uncle Donald doesn't know what to think about it,' said Tom Rogers, 65. [Trump] may think he's qualified to run a war, but he's got General Korilla who knows what he's doing. It will be OK.'
Rhyl Journal
26 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
UK welcomes news of ceasefire in Israel and Iran's 12-day conflict
Israel's government confirmed on Tuesday morning it had agreed to the ceasefire plan, proposed by US President Donald Trump. Mr Trump first claimed an agreement had been reached overnight, but both Israel and Iran were initially silent. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his nation had agreed to the bilateral ceasefire in co-ordination with Tehran. It followed a final onslaught of missiles targeting Israel early on Tuesday, which killed at least four people. Israel in turn launched a blitz of airstrikes targeting sites across Iran before dawn. Mr Netanyahu reasoned to his security cabinet that Israel had achieved all its goals in its 12-day war against Iran, including removing the threat of its nuclear programme. 'Israel will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire,' the Israeli prime minister warned. Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier posted on social media site X there was 'NO 'agreement' on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations'. But he said Iran had 'no intention' of continuing attacks if Israel stopped its 'illegal aggression against the Iranian people' by 4am Tehran time (2am BST), around a quarter of an hour before his post. As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around. As of now, there is NO "agreement" on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations. However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no… — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 24, 2025 Speaking on BBC Breakfast after news of Israel's agreement to the deal broke, Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden said it was 'good news, if the ceasefire holds'. He also told the BBC: 'I welcome the Israeli statement. It's obviously a fragile situation in the Middle East. 'A number of people have been killed overnight in missile strikes, but I think the whole world will hope that the ceasefire will hold and that Iran will come forward with a credible plan that shows that it will not pursue the development of a nuclear weapon.' Sir Keir Starmer will arrive at the Nato summit in the Netherlands on Tuesday amid news of the ceasefire. Despite news of the end to hostilities, the summit is likely to be dominated by the situation in the Middle East, as leaders deal with the aftermath of the conflict. The UK started evacuating Britons from Israel on Monday, with the first group of 63 flown back via Cyprus. Downing Street said 'around 1,000' people had requested a seat on an evacuation flight – a quarter of the 4,000 who had registered their presence in Israel or Palestine with the Foreign Office. Writing on his social media site Truth Social, Mr Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed a 'complete and total ceasefire' to be brought in over 24 hours, saying the two countries had approached him 'almost simultaneously'. He said the ceasefire would be phased in, giving the two countries six hours to have 'wound down and completed their in progress, final missions'. 'The World, and the Middle East, are the real WINNERS!' he posted later. 'They have so much to gain, and yet, so much to lose if they stray from the road of RIGHTEOUSNESS & TRUTH.'
