Rutte to convince Trump to stay in NATO at crucial White House meeting

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will have to convince President Trump that US interests are best served as a leading member of the transatlantic alliance when he visits the White House today.

The US will be pushing NATO allies to focus on their obligation to defend themselves without relying on US support, according to a US source.

President Trump has long pushed for NATO countries to spend more on defence and has threatened to pull US support for members who don't pay at least 2% of their GDP on defence. 

President Trump is likely to underline this message heavily again today.  

Meanwhile, Trump said the US would stay in NATO "if they treat us fairly and they pay their bills".

"I made a certain statement that I’m not going to be involved with NATO unless you pay your bills,” he said at the White House on Wednesday.

“I was asked the question, ‘if we don’t pay are you going to help us?’, I said no, if you don’t pay you’re delinquent," Trump said at the Oval Office St. Patrick’s Day meeting with the Irish taoiseach.

“If you’re not paying your bills I’m not gonna help,” he added.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is meeting US President Donald Trump amid ongoing negotiations for a potential truce in Ukraine.  

But US sources say the conversation today will pivot away from Ukraine towards the future of NATO, and the US demand for faster, more substantial defence burden sharing in Europe. 

Rutte is expected to concentrate on convincing Trump for the US to stay in NATO in the long term interests of the US, as America pivots towards security in the Indo Pacific. 

The former Dutch Premier is said to have formed close relations with Trump, with the two speaking frequently.

He consistently echoes the US refrain that Europe needs to spend more and take more responsibility for its own security. 

NATO allies are required to spend 2% of their GDP on defence, although eight countries including Spain, Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg are not yet meeting this mark. 

 At the same time, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth said allies need to dramatically increase their spending to 5% of GDP in the coming years.

Rutte has repeatedly said NATO allies will need to spend up to 5% on defence.