NATO chief Mark Rutte has said that member nations are doing ‘everything’ US President Donald Trump has requested.
He admitted some in the alliance had initially been ‘a bit slow’ to answer America’s calls for help in its war with Iran, but that it was now providing a ‘massive amount of support’.
Speaking in Washington on Thursday, Rutte said: ‘When it came time to provide the logistical and other support the United States needed in Iran, some allies were a bit slow, to say the least. In fairness, they were also a bit surprised.
‘To maintain the element of surprise for the initial strikes, President Trump opted not to inform allies ahead of time,’ he added.
‘But what I see, when I look across Europe today, is allies providing a massive amount of support,’ he added.
‘Nearly without exception, allies are doing everything the United States is asking. They have heard and are responding to President Trump’s requests.’
When the Secretary General was asked if he ‘still considers [Trump] daddy’, a nod to an infamous episode at the NATO summit in June 2025 when he used the word to refer to the President, he explained it had been a Dutch phrase that suffered in translation.
Rutte said: ‘This is a language problem. The translation of “your father” is “daddy”, and I said, “sometimes, daddy has to be angry.”‘
He insisted he had never meant Trump was ‘my daddy’, and laughed off the saga as being ‘so funny’.
NATO chief Mark Rutte said on Thursday that member countries are doing everything US President Donald Trump had requested to strengthen the military alliance
Rutte said he understands Trump’s disappointment with NATO and that he held ‘frank’ and ‘candid’ discussions with the US President.
Asked for a summary of his discussions with Trump, the NATO chief said: ‘As they would say in diplomatic circles these conversations were frank and open… candid.
‘But that’s good. The president, myself, we like each other, we’ve been good friends for many years now and I’d rather have the conversation on the table.
‘I sensed his disappointment about the fact that he felt that too many allies were not with him.’
Rutte’s comments came after meeting Trump on Wednesday. He has briefed some capitals that Trump wants concrete commitments within the next few days for help securing the Strait of Hormuz, according to diplomats.
Trump had earlier today issued an ultimatum to NATO, calling for a concrete commitment to send warships or other military capabilities to the Middle East.
The defence bloc risks losing American support for good if it does not meet Trump’s demands.
Trump reportedly told Rutte that he can no longer support the statements of support from his NATO allies, instead requiring material action to be taken.
Writing on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump said: ‘None of these people, including our own, very disappointing, NATO, understood anything unless they have pressure placed upon them!!!’
During his speech, Rutte heaped praise on Trump as he admitted Europe must step up its spending on the alliance.
He said: ‘We must applaud Trump for his bold leadership and vision’.
Rutte described a ‘mindset shift’ in Europe which he claimed was evidenced by the UK leading a coalition of countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
He also admitted it is a ‘period of profound change in the trans-atlantic alliance… from that there will be no going back and nor should there be.’
The chief promised NATO will not be ‘unhealthily reliant’ on the US, promising America will have allies that are ‘capable and ready, willing and able to defend’ NATO’s security.
Rutte said it will build a ‘stronger NATO’ with members moving quickly to secure the budget and strengthen their armed forces.
‘Even with this progress, it is clear we will need more,’ he added.
Trump’s greatest disappointment comes after having repeatedly and unsuccessfully demanded that allies send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Rutte’s promise comes after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth yesterday took a swipe at America’s European allies for their refusal to assist it in its fight against Iran.
Hegseth was speaking at a Pentagon press briefing following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran.
In his speech on Wednesday, Hegseth lauded Israel as a ‘brave, willing and capable ally’ to the US, adding that other ‘so-called allies saw what real capability looks like – they should take some notes.’
Meanwhile Trump, who had recently suggested the US could leave the alliance, expressed anger toward the bloc in a scathing social media post Wednesday night.
‘NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN,’ Trump wrote in an all-caps post. ‘REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!’
Trump was referring to his potential ploy to annex Greenland, which is under Danish control. Rutte was among the NATO leaders who lobbied Trump not to take over Greenland.
As a result of his frustration with the alliance, administration officials told The Wall Street Journal that Trump may move troops stationed in NATO countries that refused to help him wage a military campaign against Iran.
Trump is reportedly mulling over several different plans, but the military scheme has gained the most backing from senior White House officials.
Canada, the Czech Republic, Albania, North Macedonia, Lithuania, and Latvia are among the NATO members who have publicly backed the strikes on Iran.
The United Kingdom, Portugal and Germany have allowed the US to use military bases, but some NATO members have been neutral.
Trump was also angered as NATO allies Spain and France forbade or restricted the use of their airspace or joint military facilities for the US.
Trump’s greatest disappointment comes after having repeatedly and unsuccessfully demanded that allies send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
France, Spain and other nations, however, agreed to help with an international coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz when the conflict ends.
His disdain for the alliance has been brewing, especially after Germany, France, the UK, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Finland all moved troops to Greenland in a show of unity amid Trump’s attempts to acquire the territory.
The Washington Post noted that Rutte appeared to have talked Trump out of any plan to end the US’s involvement with NATO during their meeting today.