Mark Rutte, the head of NATO, states that European leaders "are sending Trump's message," in the context of the withdrawal of American soldiers from Germany.

At the summit in Armenia, Mark Rutte, the NATO chief, stated that European leaders received Donald Trump's message of frustration regarding Iran, following the announcement of the withdrawal of 5,000 American soldiers from Germany. Rutte emphasized that the United States was disappointed with the European reaction to the situation in the Middle East, but Europeans are intensifying their efforts to strengthen their defense capabilities. Kaja Kallas, the head of EU diplomacy, mentioned that Trump's decision was a surprise, highlighting the need to strengthen the European pillar of NATO.

Emmanuel Macron added that Europeans are taking responsibility for defense, increasing spending and developing common solutions. Trump criticized European partners for their lack of contributions to operations in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the need for independence in defense, a call also supported by Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission.