Article 5 of the NATO treaty states that if a NATO country is attacked, all other countries must come to its defense.
Prior to today's NATO summit, Trump has once again created uncertainty about the US stance.
On board the presidential plane Air Force One on the way to the meeting in The Hague, he was asked if the US still considers itself bound by Article 5.
It depends on how you define it. There are several interpretations of Article 5. You know that, don't you? But I am determined to be their friend, Trump replied according to the media.
It is my duty to save lives, lives and safety. And I will give you an exact definition (of Article 5) when I get there. I do not want to do it on an airplane.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson states that he fully trusts that the US will defend NATO countries that are attacked.
Because we have had so many conversations in the past six months with so many people also from the US, and everyone is unanimous. Article 5 applies, he says on arrival at the meeting in The Hague.
Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Störe also has full confidence in Article 5.
The US is one hundred percent behind the NATO commitment and Article 5, he says.
Finland's President Alexander Stubb says the same thing.
I am not at all worried, he says.
Early on Wednesday, NATO chief Mark Rutte in The Hague was asked about the mutual defense paragraph, after Trump's statement. He also says he is not worried that the US has a deviating opinion on the matter.
For me, it is completely clear that the US is fully committed to NATO, fully for Article 5, says Rutte on arrival at the meeting.
The good thing about Article 5 is that it clearly states that we defend ourselves when we are attacked. Then we always get the question of "yes, but what if that side is attacked" or if it is a hybrid attack – but we never go into those details (publicly), says Rutte.
Article 5 has only been used once so far in NATO history: when the US asked for help immediately after the terrorist attacks on the US East Coast on September 11, 2001.
