NATO's Rutte Says Europeans Have 'Gotten Message' From Trump

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: US News & World Report/Reuters

May 4, 2026, at 2:53 a.m.


BRUSSELS, May 4 (Reuters) - ⁠European ⁠nations have "gotten the message" ⁠from U.S. President Donald Trump and are ​now ensuring that agreements on the use of military bases are ‌being implemented, NATO Secretary ‌General Mark Rutte said on Monday.

Trump has accused ⁠some NATO ⁠nations of not doing enough to support the United ​States in the Iran war. In a further sign of his discontent with European allies, the U.S. announced on Friday ​plans to withdraw 5,000 troops from Germany.

"Yes, there has been ⁠some ⁠disappointment from the U.S. ⁠side, ​but Europeans have listened," Rutte told reporters at a European ​Political Community summit ⁠in Armenia. "They are now making sure that all the bilateral basing agreements are being implemented," he said.

NATO member Spain has said that military bases on its territory cannot ⁠be used for the war with Iran. But Rutte said ⁠other NATO countries such as Montenegro, Croatia, Romania, Portugal, Greece, Italy, Britain, France and Germany were implementing requests for the use of bases and other logistical support.

Read more: https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-05-04/natos-rutte-says-europeans-have-gotten-message-from-trump

[JBTaurus83]

1. That's unfortunate

Europe should not bend to the will of the pig.

[ananda]

2. Question... Is Europe really that different from us?

Aren't we all societies built on forms
of slavery and genocide held in place
by the christan crusade and missionary
spirit?

[cstanleytech]

3. Those are things that go back far before Christianity even existed.

[ananda]

6. No they don't.

This lasted through Nazi Germany.

Many countries in Europe had slave colonies
during the 19th century, and the Catholic
Church has been missionizing all kinds of
countries through the 20th century... all of
it vicious and cruel.

Just look at Queen Victoria's family... they
were autocrats in several countries for quite
a while.

[cstanleytech]

7. Slavery and genocide predate Christianity by thousands of years is what I'm saying.

[ananda]

8. OK, but my point was that European countries were practicing...

slavery, genocide, and missionizing well into the 20th century.

Their wealth, like that of America, is based on it... and the
classism and racism behind it has not disappeared anywhere.

[Polybius]

10. Not only European countries

Slavery was highly prevalent in Asian and African countries as well.

[SamuelAdams]

4. So Europe just continues to do whatever Trump wants.

It's like when your kid throws a temper tantrum in the grocery store so you buy him candy.

[Prairie Gates]

5. Rutte's talking out of his ass wrt Italy

Nothing has changed in the disposition of the air bases: OK for logistics, no go for offensive launches.

[fujiyamasan]

9. This is why I have little confidence in Europe's collective leadership

They have little to no leverage. It’s absolutely pathetic.

I think some individual members may get sick of this bending over backwards to placate Trump. We’re seeing Macron taking a more independent stance.

Rutte is a fucking loser though.