Trump Sparks Controversy with Release of NATO Chief’s Text Praising US Strikes on Iran

According to Saed News, Donald Trump has publicly released screenshots of personal text exchanges from Mark Rutte, NATO’s Secretary-General, in which Rutte commends Trump’s decision to launch assertive strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The messages, shared on Trump’s social media platform Truth Social shortly before the NATO summit in The Hague, underscore a rare display of overt support from a leading NATO figure for the former US president’s military assertiveness.

In the texts, Rutte congratulates Trump on what he describes as a “decisive action against Iran,” asserting that “no one else dared to do it,” and credits the operation with enhancing collective security. Rutte further promises Trump “another major success” at the summit, claiming unanimous NATO member agreement to meet Trump’s demand for military spending equivalent to 5% of GDP.

Addressing Trump directly, Rutte declares, “Donald, you have brought us to a truly pivotal moment for America, Europe, and the world. You will accomplish what no US president has achieved in decades.” This message was later confirmed authentic by a NATO spokesperson to the BBC, adding weight to the diplomatic implications.

However, Rutte’s assertion of unanimous NATO compliance with the 5% GDP defense budget target has been contested. Reports indicate that Spain, under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has refused to endorse the proposal, labeling it “not only unreasonable but harmful.” Madrid currently spends only 1.3% of its GDP on defense, well short of both the new 5% target and the earlier 2% goal set during Trump’s first presidency.

Trump has long pressured NATO allies to substantially increase military expenditures, a campaign that gained renewed urgency amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The release of these messages comes in the aftermath of a highly contentious US bombing campaign, ordered by Trump on July 1, targeting underground Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan with bunker-buster munitions.

The strikes followed earlier Israeli attacks against Iranian nuclear, military, and civilian sites on June 13, which resulted in multiple casualties among military commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. Despite warnings from US intelligence that Iran was not imminently close to developing nuclear weapons, the US action disregarded these assessments.

In retaliation, Iran launched “Promised Victory 3,” a military operation that inflicted significant damage on Israeli military, security, and industrial infrastructure. Further escalating the conflict, Iran targeted the Al-Udeid US military base in Qatar with ballistic missiles during the “Good Tidings of Victory” operation.

The disclosure of NATO’s internal communications praising Trump’s hardline approach is poised to complicate diplomatic relations within the alliance and deepen divisions over the appropriate response to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional tensions.