U.S. President Donald Trump said he will present his complaints about NATO to alliance members during a meeting later on Wednesday.
“I will present my problems,” Trump said while speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte as the summit began, according to CNN.
He mentioned Greenland and Iran as areas of concern, suggesting that the United States is paying “billions of dollars more than it should” to ensure Europe’s security.
“We have been treated unfairly. We pay disproportionately,” Trump said.
The remarks marked a significant start to the summit, which has left European officials concerned about how Trump may translate his criticism of the alliance into changes regarding the U.S. military posture.
Meanwhile, NATO members have emphasized their increased defense spending ahead of the summit. Earlier on Wednesday, Rutte praised higher defense investments by other allies, saying that an additional $258 billion in spending by Canada and Europe in 2025 and 2026 was “staggering.”
