Key points
- The NATO summit wants to avoid the risks associated with Donald Trump and his harsh statements.
- They will also discuss the situation in the Middle East, in particular the US strikes on the Iranian nuclear program, which have caused concern among the Alliance member countries.
- The summit will be attended by the King and Queen of the Netherlands, the heads of NATO member states, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will also arrive.
The NATO summit will take place in The Hague on June 24-25. The program of the event was cut down as much as possible, and a number of media outlets linked this to the policy of the American president.
As Channel 24 host Daniel Tkie explained, the leaders' program for June 24 begins with a joint dinner. The King and Queen of the Netherlands will be present, as well as all the heads of NATO member states.
Why the summit program was cut
Donald Trump will arrive in The Hague to attend the dinner. According to preliminary information, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will also be there.
The main formal part of the event will take place on Wednesday, June 25. Only one meeting of leaders is planned, lasting 2 hours. The program was shortened as much as possible, because in previous years there were several working sessions, each lasting 2 hours.
So the summit was tailored to Donald Trump's character and behavior. No one wants him to ruin this event and leave it as soon as possible. This has already happened with the G7 summit, – noted Daniel Tkie.
Also, everyone remembers Trump's participation in the summit in 2018. Then he threatened to leave NATO. This time, the organizers want to minimize all risks. The dinner should contribute to a positive atmosphere among all participants.
How the summit relates to the situation in the Middle East
The White House is currently focused on the conflict between Iran and Israel. The US Air Force strike on Iran's nuclear program is unprecedented, as it happened for the first time in history.
For the first time, the US used B-2 bombers so massively. They dropped 7 bunker busters. Of course, NATO member countries are forced to take this situation into account. Israel currently has complete air superiority over Tehran, stressed Daniel Tkie.
For Ukraine, this poses certain threats. There is talk of raising oil prices. But on the other hand, the US has shown its strength and has come out against the authoritarian regime that supports Russia. Russian dictator Putin has condemned these strikes and called them “a violation of international law.”
These issues will be discussed at the NATO summit. The NATO Secretary General stated that all members of the Alliance are against Iran having the ability to manufacture nuclear weapons. Therefore, the situation in the Middle East will be in the focus of attention.
