Nato flatters ‘Daddy' Trump but Ukraine can't be forgotten

Times

5 hours ago

Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary-general, paid gushing compliments to President Trump
PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
T he sycophancy was as extraordinary as it was ­effective. The gushing compliments paid by Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary-general, to President Trump for his 'big win' in securing agreement — almost unanimous — at the Nato summit to raise the defence spending of each member to 5 per cent of GDP raised smiles, eyebrows and high hopes that America would not, after all, turn its back on its allies.
Hailing him as the 'Daddy', the former Dutch prime minister told Mr Trump that he had achieved something 'no American president in decades could get done'. A glowing Mr Trump left the Hague noting that 'these people' really loved their countries and that America was there to ­protect them.
The 'big win' was that Nato explicitly recognised the threat from Russia and that Europe was ready to pay a larger — and long overdue — share of the huge sums now needed to increase its ­defence and resilience. Mr Trump, basking in the adulation he received for the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, seemed to put behind him past denunciations of European freeloading and all talk of turning his back on Nato. That will be a huge relief to nervous European leaders — as least as long as the mercurial president does not change his mind. And it will thwart any hopes in Moscow of widening a transatlantic split.
• Donald Trump 'sees Vladimir Putin as obstacle to Ukraine peace talks'
There was a price to pay, however. There was no time to discuss other issues, such as a common procurement policy, regional stability or any offer of further reassurance to frontline states such as the Baltics. Most regrettable of all, the summit did not discuss the urgent need for continuing ­military support for Ukraine. Nor, for the first time since the Russian invasion more than three years ago, did the final communiqué condemn Vladimir Putin's aggression.
This was a serious omission. Russia's steady ­advance along much of the front line, coupled ­with the relentless bombardment of Ukrainian civilians, underlines the determination of the Kremlin to seize control of all Ukraine and the utter cynicism of President Putin in his talks with Mr Trump and his emissaries in suggesting he might contemplate a ceasefire and negotiations. He will not. And at last the US president seems disabused of his naive fantasy that he can win over Mr Putin by his indulgence of the Russian leader. Russia's dictator, he said, was 'misguided' — a notable presidential understatement.
At least this time Mr Trump made space for ­private talks with President Zelensky, with some words of encouragement that avoided the earlier rancour. Mr Trump still shows no sign of being ready to increase military pressure on Russia or give Ukraine the arms it needs to prevail. But there may be a way forward in suggestions that the United States could sell Kyiv the Patriot air ­defence missiles so desperately needed — a transactional deal that would suit Mr Trump's outlook. For that, Ukraine just needs money. Other ­weapons, notably drones, it is manufacturing itself in large quantities.
Nato, apart from Spain, has rediscovered the need for collective security and mutual obligations. Madrid, disgracefully, thinks it can remain an outlier (even Hungary is ready to pay 5 per cent). Domestic politics is the reason, as well as Spain's distance from the front line. This may change. More than ever, Nato needs unity.