Mark Rutte visits the White House during President Donald Trump's early term
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte meets with US President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. This will be Rutte's first meeting with a US politician since becoming NATO chief. Thanks to his connections, the Dutch politician has earned the nickname “Trump Whisperer.” The president-elect himself praised Rutte and was pleased.
According to an investigation by De Telegraaf newspaper, NATO chief Mark Rutte visited President Donald Trump's residence on a Dutch government plane. NATO does not have representative aircraft, but instead leases aircraft from alliance member states.
Air transport journalist Menno Swart tracked the Florida-bound plane near President Trump's Mar-a-Lago headquarters.
Germany's DPA agency, citing NATO diplomatic sources, reported that the meeting between Mr. Rutte and Mr. Trump raises concerns, among other things: Rutte visited Florida on Thursday over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and defense spending.
NATO. Mark Rutte visits Donald Trump. this is the first meeting
A spokesperson for the NATO chief did not disclose any plans for a meeting with President Trump. However, if media reports are confirmed, it will be Rutte's first meeting with a US politician since he became NATO Secretary-General in October.
See also: Appeal to prepare for extreme situations. NATO countries advise how to survive war
In international politics, Rutte is seen as a calm and capable negotiator. In 2018, he was nicknamed the “Trump Whisperer.” At one of the NATO summits held in Brussels, then-U.S. President Trump accused the allies of insufficient defense spending and began threatening to pull the U.S. out of NATO. Prime Minister Rutte was supposed to lighten the mood by saying that the increase in spending was precisely due to Republican pressure.
Afterward, President Trump reportedly expressed his delight at Rutte, praising the “amazing time” they had in Brussels.
Rutte also has a good working relationship with outgoing US President Joe Biden, who has publicly praised the Dutchman's contributions and negotiation skills.
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