International • 22:11 • Modified at 22:11 Trump confirms attendance at NATO summit to Prime Minister Schoof Author : ANP US President Donald Trump has confirmed his attendance at the NATO summit in The Hague next month in a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Dick Schoof. This was reported by the Government Information Service.
Earlier in the day, Schoof shared on X that he had had a 'pleasant conversation' with Trump. 'We looked forward to his arrival at the NATO summit next month in The Hague, where I emphasized that it is a great honor for the Netherlands to welcome him and all other NATO allies.' Last week, Matthew Whitaker, the American NATO ambassador, already suggested Trump's presence at the summit in The Hague. It was feared that the summit would be canceled in the absence of the president.
Read also The Netherlands faces the greatest security challenge since WWII at NATO summit in The Hague: 'Timing essential' Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans had previously reassured his audience that the meeting would go ahead. Now Trump's participation also seems to have been officially confirmed. If Trump did not come, the summit would by definition not be successful, was the general opinion. 'A lot depends on it, so this seems to be going in the right direction', said BNR's Europe reporter Michal van der Toorn. 'But ultimately Trump also makes decisions himself, and he is quite unpredictable. We will only know for sure once he has boarded Air Force One.'
Keeping everything safe The NATO summit is seen as the largest security operation in the Netherlands since World War II. The arrival of dozens of world leaders requires large-scale measures. Two weeks ago, the police, defense, the NCTV and the military police announced what exactly is being done to ensure that everything runs smoothly. An existing blueprint is being used for this, said security expert Glenn Schoen.
Read also Donald Trump to attend NATO summit in The Hague, US ambassador confirms Some 8,500 participants are expected, including 45 heads of state and government leaders, as well as 45 foreign ministers and 45 defense ministers. The Netherlands already organized the successful Nuclear Security Summit in 2014, with President Obama among others, which is used as a blueprint according to Schoen. 'In addition, you look at how other countries have previously organized this summit. In this way, you use your own knowledge and expertise, and you apply that to this situation with the 'best practices' of other countries.'
