During the main session of the NATO summit in The Hague, Donald Trump began with positive words about defense spending and vowed that Russia would never attack NATO while he was US president, according to three European officials familiar with the discussions, The Washington Post reports.
Despite the fact that the NATO meetings were devoted to European defense, increasing spending and combating threats, the main one being Russia, Trump spent much of the day defending his strikes on Iran, the media notes.
Other leaders, in turn, praised Trump’s efforts to increase European defense spending. Some supported his strikes on Iran. According to European officials, many of them used flattery, which they realized was a very effective way to reach Trump’s heart.
“Trump stayed throughout the session, listening to other leaders, something not always guaranteed by US presidents who sometimes arrive to give a speech but then leave for other meetings while other leaders are speaking,” WP writes.