Nato chief: Member countries are ‘doing everything’ Trump is asking

Nato chief Mark Rutte said that Nato countries are responding to Donald Trump’s requests for support to strengthen their military alliance, despite some initially being “a bit slow”.

“Nearly without exception, allies are doing everything the United States is asking. They have heard and are responding to President Trump’s requests,” Rutte stated in a speech in Washington on Thursday. 

“Thanks to American leadership, and a collective commitment to ensuring continued freedom and security, Nato is growing stronger,” Rutte added.

“I am confident that a stronger Europe in a stronger Nato will not take US leadership for granted.” 

He also compared the alliance to how troops “fought and sacrificed shoulder-to-shoulder in Afghanistan” and called US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's remarks “spot on” in arguing that “an alliance cannot be a one-way street”.

Rutte’s comments come after a meeting with the US president on Wednesday, which preceded Rutte reportedly briefing some member capitals on Thursday that Trump wants concrete commitments in the coming days for help securing the Strait of Hormuz.

This also follows Trump's increased frustration with Nato over a lack of support, which led to him again threatening Greenland, a Nato member, in a post on Truth Social. 

“NATO WASN’T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON’T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN. REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!” - President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/xgEV8P1n4n

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 8, 2026