Nato chief praises Trump for making Europe ‘pay in a big way’ on defence

Nato confirmed that Mark Rutte sent the message (Markus Schreiber/AP)

Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte has praised US President Donald Trump for making Europe “pay in a big way”, as allied leaders gathered in the Netherlands for a historic summit that could unite them around a new defence spending pledge or widen divisions among the 32 member countries.

The US president, while flying aboard Air Force One en route to The Hague, published a screenshot of a private message from Mr Rutte saying: “Donald, you have driven us to a really, really important moment for America and Europe and the world. You will achieved something NO American president in decades could get done.”