How Did NATO Become the Trump Show?

Edition No169 | 26-06-2025 - Appeasing Trump seems to have been the tone and substance of the NATO Summit that has just ended. Maybe it’s worked. Maybe the perceived victory is illusory and temporary. America’s traditional allies pledged to spend a lot more on defence, but the details are sketchy to put it mildly. At least, the Western democracies may conclude, that a Trump toddler meltdown, like that which took place in the Oval Office was averted. “Donald, you have driven us to a really, really important moment for America and Europe and the world,” wrote Mark Rutte, in a statement that managed to be both obsequious and condescending at the same time. “Europe is going to pay in a BIG way, as they should, and it will be your win.” A day later Mr Rutte went further, referring to the president as “Daddy”, in a moment of pure cringe. Was Mr Rutte’s strategy was degrading or inspired, no one could decide. But it is an indication of how far Trump has dragged the tone down to his level. Rutte, Nato secretary-general, praised the US president for his galvanising effect. “Dear Donald, you made this change possible,” referring to the increase in defence spending to 5% of GDP. NATO's Potemkin Summit: Words Over Actions? In this episode of Silicon Bites, we delve into the recent NATO Potemkin Summit, dominated by attempts to appease Donald Trump. Despite soaring promises and new defense spending targets, the tangible actions and details remain vague. The summit reveals the increasing pressure European allies feel to cater to Trump, often at the expense of addressing critical issues like Russia's ongoing aggression toward Ukraine and other NATO members. Key moments include discussions about defense spending, with some nations resisting the 5% GDP target, and Trump's ambiguous commitment to NATO's Article 5. The episode underscores the complexities and contradictions in transatlantic relations under Trump's influence. ---------- CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 Introduction and Channel Support 00:00:30 NATO Summit Overview 00:00:32 Trump's Influence and Reactions 00:01:48 Defense Spending Commitments 00:02:26 Russia's Threat and NATO's Response 00:02:56 Spain's Resistance and Internal Issues 00:04:21 Concerns Over NATO's Preparedness 00:07:23 Trump's Ambiguous Stance on Article Five 00:09:20 European Allies' Perspective 00:12:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts ---------- LINKS: https://www.economist.com/europe/2025/06/25/at-a-tricky-nato-summit-a-trumpian-meltdown-is-averted https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/25/the-guardian-view-on-the-nato-summit-europe-must-take-the-path-of-strategic-self-reliance https://news.sky.com/story/there-were-toe-curling-displays-of-affection-towards-daddy-trump-at-the-nato-summit-but-like-it-or-not-it-worked-13388735 https://theconversation.com/how-nato-summit-shows-europe-and-us-no-longer-have-a-common-enemy-259842 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/06/25/nato-summit-trump-ukraine-war-zelensky-starmer/ ---------- Car for Ukraine has once again joined forces with a group of influencers, creators, and news observers during this summer. Sunshine here serves as a metaphor, the trucks are a sunshine for our warriors to bring them to where they need to be and out from the place they don't. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/summer-sunshine-silicon-curtain This time, we focus on the 6th Detachment of HUR, 93rd Alcatraz, 3rd Brigade, MLRS systems and more. https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/summer-sunshine-silicon-curtain - bring soldiers to the positions - protect them with armor - deploy troops with drones to the positions ---------- SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISER A project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras ---------- SUPPORT THE CHANNEL: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain https://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain ---------- TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND: Save Ukraine https://www.saveukraineua.org/ Superhumans - Hospital for war traumas https://superhumans.com/en/ UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukraine https://unbroken.org.ua/ Come Back Alive https://savelife.in.ua/en/ Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchen https://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraine UNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyy https://u24.gov.ua/ Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation https://prytulafoundation.org NGO “Herojam Slava” https://heroiamslava.org/ kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemysl https://kharpp.com/ NOR DOG Animal Rescue https://www.nor-dog.org/home/ -----------