STORY: NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte was confident the alliance would agree to raise its defence spending target to 5% on Wednesday (June 25), despite objections from some members.

Rutte said he was not worried about Spain blocking the change after it declared it does not need to meet the goal. Madrid says it can meet its military commitments to NATO by spending much less - a view disputed by Rutte.

Former Dutch PM Rutte also said it was thanks to Donald Trump that alliance members were raising defence spending. He said it was ''totally fine'' that Trump had shared a private message in which Rutte lavished praise on him and congratulated him on "decisive action in Iran".

NATO officials are hoping the conflict between Israel and Iran, and the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites at the weekend, will not overshadow the gathering, hosted by Rutte in his home city.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, DOORSTEP AHEAD OF NATO SUMMIT

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (JUNE 25, 2025) (NATO - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, ARRIVING AND ENTERING BUILDING

2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"The countries have to find the money. It's not easy. These are political decisions. I totally recognise that. But at the same time, there is absolute conviction with my colleagues at the table that, given the threat from the Russians, given the international security situation, there is no alternative. We've got to do this, really."

3. RUTTE SPEAKING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING: (ASKED IF HE THINKS SPAIN OBJECTING TO 5% SPENDING TARGET COULD 'SCUPPER SUMMIT 'AND 'INCUR IRE' OF U.S.)

"No, I don't. I'm not worried about that. Of course, these are difficult decisions. Let's be honest. I mean, politicians have to make choices in scarcity. And this is not easy because seven, eight countries at the start of this year, not at 2%, they will now reach the 2% (defence spending target) this year. Many of those countries said we will do it somewhere in the 2030s. They've now committed to do it this year."

5. RUTTE SPEAKING

6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"Listen, it's totally true. Would you really think that the seven or eight countries not at 2% at the beginning of this year would have reached the 2% if Trump would not have been elected President of the United States? Would you really think that—of course, there is a threat from the Russians, China, etc., etc.—but that it would be doable to reach this commitment of 5% today—and I'm hopeful and cautiously optimistic we will get there—if Trump would not have been elected president? So I think what I said in the text message to him, totally fine that he published it, please, totally fine that he published it, I think is a statement of facts."

7. PRESS

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"For me, there is absolute clarity that the United States is totally committed to NATO, totally committed to Article 5. And, yes, there is also an expectation, which will be fulfilled today, that the Canadians and the Europeans will speed up their spending, making sure that we not only are able to defend ourselves against the Russians and others, but also to equalize. And this is fair that we spend the same as the U.S. is spending."

9. RUTTE SPEAKING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NATO SECRETARY-GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, SAYING:

"And Ukraine will be big at the summit today. It will be discussed making sure that Ukraine, over the coming years, will continue to count on the support of NATO countries to keep them in the fight, but also make sure that we can bring Ukraine to a durable and lasting peace."

11. RUTTE LEAVING