It is time for Europe to honour its defence spending promises
Mr Rutte congratulated Mr Trump's 'truly extraordinary' intervention in Iran as 'something no one else dared to do' that has made 'us all safer', before promising 'another big success' in The Hague with promises of 5 per cent spending pledges ('Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win').
The question is why Europe's leaders took so long to come round to common sense on each point. The threat posed by Iran and its nuclear ambitions has been clear to everyone for years. The combined US and Israeli operations that appear to have decimated Tehran's programme may have done more to ensure peace and stability in the Middle East than any other step in recent years.
After an initial ceasefire was punctuated by an Iranian rocket, a retaliatory raid, and a furious outburst from Mr Trump – who declared that neither country knew 'what the f--- they're doing ' – a tentative peace appeared to be holding last night. Should it continue to do so, Mr Trump will have made a beginning on what may turn out to be a remarkable project.
European leaders should acknowledge that favour, and consider its message: peace comes through strength, rather than weakness. The Nato summit looks set to see a commitment to spend 5 per cent of GDP on national security, including resilience rather than defence outright. Let us hope this money is spent wisely on the weapons Europe needs and that leaders do not yield to the temptation to play accounting tricks.
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