Nordic and Baltic countries — the most exposed nations if Russian President Vladimir Putin does decide to attack NATO territory in the next five years — had no choice but claim there is no problem and Trump is fully committed to Europe’s security.
“Article 5 is absolutely working,” Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal told reporters ahead of the gathering.
“I don’t think President Trump is relativizing Article 5,” echoed Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
“I think the U.S. is 100 percent behind NATO obligations and Article 5,” Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre also said.
“There is absolutely no discussion over [Article 5],” said Polish President Andrzej Duda.
NATO allies are expected to agree later on Wednesday on a new defense spending target of 5 percent of GDP, which is a figure Trump has demanded for months. The alliance’s European members are hoping that, in exchange, the U.S. president will remain involved in the continent’s security.