Rutte Launches NATO Annual Report, Claims Alliance 'Safer Under Trump' as All 32 Members Hit 2% for First Time

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held a press conference to launch the NATO Annual Report 2025, declaring that NATO is 'safer under Trump' and crediting Trump's pressure tactics with forcing all 32 alliance members to meet the 2% GDP defense spending threshold for the first time in NATO's history. Rutte framed this as vindication of his pro-Trump diplomatic strategy. The annual report confirmed a 19.6% surge in allied military expenditure. Rutte acknowledged European frustration with his Iran stance but said keeping the US inside NATO was worth the political cost. The 'all 32 at 2%' milestone was widely covered as a historic first — though critics noted it arrived just as Trump was publicly questioning whether the alliance held any value for the United States.