UPDATE 18:50 Nicușor Dan has arrived at the Summit

Romanian President Nicușor Dan has arrived in The Hague, political sources tell Mediafax.

This evening, Nicușor Dan will take part in the official dinner offered by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, organized at the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch in The Hague, in honor of the leaders of the participating delegations, according to the program sent by the Presidential Administration.

Before the official dinner, Nicușor Dan will meet with a delegation from the US Senate, according to political sources.

The delegation includes Senators Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat) and Thom Tillis (Republican), co-chairs of the US Senate NATO observer group, as well as Democratic Senator Chris Coons.

The three senators are scheduled to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof, and Romanian President Nicușor Dan. The meeting with the Romanian head of state will take place at the hotel, before the official dinner, according to the same sources.

On Wednesday, Nicușor Dan is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Czech President Petr Pavel and could have brief informal discussions with other leaders of NATO member states, on the sidelines of the summit.

Rutte warns NATO not to underestimate threats and calls for firm support for Ukraine

During the NATO summit in The Hague, Mark Rutte called on allies to treat the threats from Russia and China seriously.

"Let's not be naive," he said."You see what China, North Korea and Iran are doing in support of the Russian war effort. So it's all interconnected."

The NATO Secretary General insisted that the alliance must manage multiple crises simultaneously.

"If you can only deal with one issue at a time, you shouldn't be in politics or defense."

He reaffirmed support for Ukraine and stressed the need for Kiev to be ready for real negotiations."We need to make sure that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position when real talks start," Rutte said.

US Ambassador to NATO: Attacks on Iran show that peace can be achieved through force

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said on June 24 that US airstrikes against Iranian nuclear facilities demonstrate the effectiveness of military force in achieving peace. The statement was made at the NATO Summit.

"(The US attack on Iranian nuclear facilities) shows how peace is achieved through this force, and this force is amplified and strengthened by this alliance (NATO)," Whitaker said, referring to the June 21 airstrikes that targeted the Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan sites.

President Donald Trump called these strikes a "spectacular success."

Whitaker also stated that the United States continues to be an essential partner within NATO.

“The United States is not going anywhere,” he said. “The United States has certain capabilities that you want an alliance to have.”

Zelensky: Ukraine can build 8 million drones per year, but needs financial support

At the NATO summit on June 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine could manufacture over 8 million drones of various types annually.

"Our defense production potential has exceeded $35 billion," Zelensky said in a speech at the NATO Defense Industry Forum in The Hague.

“This includes almost 1,000 types of products… but about 40% of this potential does not benefit from adequate funding. For example, we can produce over 8 million drones of various types each year, but funding allows for much less.”

Zelensky called on NATO allies to invest more in joint arms production, especially in drones, artillery and interceptors. He said these efforts serve not only Ukraine but also the long-term security of the Alliance.

"We need to be leaders in the drone race, both in terms of attack drones and interceptors," he said.

"We ask you to increase your investments in Ukraine and in joint arms production. All the weapons we produce become part of a new and stronger European defense and security system."

“The source of this war and the long-term threat to Europe is Russia,” Zelensky said. “But in reality, we are not just dealing with Russia. We are dealing with a network of state and non-state actors.”

Danish Prime Minister: 2035 is too late for NATO's 5% target

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has criticized the deadline set for reaching NATO's new defense spending target, saying 2035 is too far away for such a target.

"Too late, to be very frank and honest," Frederiksen said of the ten-year plan.

"My suggestion was 2030, at the latest. And I would like us Europeans to rearm so that we are able to defend ourselves and deter Russia," she added.

Sikorski: Europe should learn from Ukraine's mobilization

Radosław Sikorski, Poland's foreign minister, said that European states should take inspiration from how Ukraine prepared for war, highlighting its rapid industrial efforts.

Europe "must learn from what the Ukrainians did," he said, noting that they built 200 factories in three years"because they know they are in wartime."

Sikorski continued: "We're not at war, but we're in a time of crisis, so we have to short-circuit some of our procedures, planning procedures, that kind of thing."

"We don't have to be as good as the United States. We just have to be better than the Russians. But the Russians are also very quick learners."

Trump's nominee to head US forces in Europe says Ukraine can win

Lieutenant General Alexus Grynkewich, proposed by President Donald Trump for the highest US military position in Europe, said that Ukraine has a chance to win the conflict with Russia, according to Reuters.

"I think Ukraine can win," Grynkewich said during his Senate confirmation hearing.

He added: "I think every time your own homeland is threatened, you fight with a tenacity that is hard to imagine for us."

NATO allies called to "match" US in defense. Trump to be present at The Hague

"The United States and President Donald Trump are fully committed to NATO," the alliance's Secretary General, Mark Rutte, said Tuesday in an attempt to reassure allies worried that Washington could withdraw from the Western military bloc due to frustrations over unequal defense spending, according to CNBC.

"There is a total commitment from the American president and the top leadership of the United States to NATO," Rutte stressed at the opening of the summit, which takes place on Tuesday and Wednesday in The Hague, in the Netherlands.

The official stated, however, that"this commitment comes with an expectation, and the expectation is to finally resolve this great dissatisfaction: the fact that Europeans and Canadians are not spending enough."

NATO confirms Rutte's congratulatory message to Trump

Reuters reported that NATO officials confirmed that the message was sent by Rutte to Trump earlier on Tuesday.

Trump posts congratulatory message, possibly from Mark Rutte

On his way to The Hague, Donald Trump shared on social media what he claims is a text message from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The message, saved under the name"Rutte", praises Trump for"decisive action in Iran", considered"truly extraordinary" and "what no one else dared to do".

The contact further says that Trump is "flying to another great success at The Hague" and adds:

"It wasn't easy, but we got everyone to sign the 5 percent!"

The message continues: "Donald, you have led us to a very, very important moment for America and Europe, and for the world. You will achieve something that NO American president has been able to do in decades."

On his way to the Netherlands, President Donald Trump raised questions about the United States' commitment to Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which provides for the collective defense of alliance members, writes The Guardian.

"It depends on your definition," Trump said Tuesday as he headed to The Hague for the NATO summit."There are many definitions of Article Five, you know that, right? But I've committed to being their friend."

When reporters later asked him to clarify his position, Trump said he was"committed to saving lives" and "committed to life and safety," but did not provide further details. He added that he did not want to go into detail while on the flight.

Nicușor Dan would have a meeting with Donald Trump

Romanian President Nicușor Dan could meet with US President Donald Trump during the NATO summit taking place in The Hague these days, according to political sources.

Discussions regarding the organization of this meeting reportedly began a few weeks ago and, according to available information, have progressed significantly.

The meeting has not been officially confirmed, and details regarding the format or exact timing are still under discussion between the two delegations.

The NATO summit in the Netherlands is the first that Nicușor Dan participates in as president. Previously, he represented Romania at the"Bucharest 9" plus Nordic countries meeting, held in Lithuania.

The two presidents will attend the NATO summit in The Hague, writes Sky News.

A senior official from the Ukrainian presidency told AFP on condition of anonymity that the meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday,"early afternoon."

The last time Zelensky and Trump met was in April, on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral.

The NATO Summit in The Hague has begun

A major NATO summit is taking place in The Hague on June 24-25, where leaders of the 32 member countries will discuss the future direction of the alliance. It is the first summit hosted by the Netherlands and the first attended by Donald Trump since returning to the White House.

The main topic is increasing defense spending. An ambitious target is being discussed: each state should allocate 5% of GDP by 2035. This includes not only the military, but also infrastructure, cybersecurity, and advanced technologies.

The summit comes amid heightened international tensions, especially after recent US attacks on Iran. Support for Ukraine also remains high on the agenda, even if there is no talk of its rapid accession to NATO.

Nicușor Dan, the President of Romania, is also present at the NATO Summit in The Hague, after being present at the Cotroceni Palace on Monday for the inauguration ceremony of the new Bologna Government, more precisely, at the swearing-in session of the new ministers.