‘Tough Daddy' today, but NATO doubts linger on Trump's military staying power
London: There is no mistaking the success of US President Donald Trump over the past six days in getting his way with allies and enemies.
Trump ordered a powerful demonstration of American military might against Iran, called out Israel and Iran over their continuing war and extracted a big pledge from European leaders on defence spending.
Trump even drew gushing praise from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who likened the president to a father who needed to deliver a tough message.
'Sometimes daddy needs to use strong language,' Rutte quipped when asked about Trump's declaration that Israel and Iran did not know 'what the f---' they were doing when they breached a supposed ceasefire.
That quip came one day after Trump leaked a private message from Rutte that heaped praise on the president for his strike against Iran and his hard talk with Europe about defence.
Trump seemed to win the defence dispute with Europe after years of complaining that NATO members were spending too little and relying on the US too much. All the major European leaders seemed to give him exactly what he wanted.
But the superficial success does not foreshadow a strategic advance for Trump and America. It takes more than six days to be confident of that.
The chief reason the major European powers are spending more on defence is to deter Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin, the world leader Trump seems most anxious to appease.
And they are doing more to defend their citizens because Trump so often equivocates on Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which is meant to ensure that all members come to the defence of another when it is under attack.
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