Israel strikes Iran's Evin prison in Tehran – DW – 06/23/2025
Israel said its carrying out strikes inside Iran with 'unprecedented intensity,' destroying numerous security offices and damaging the gate at Tehran's infamous Evin Prison. DW has the latest.
Israel's defense secretary said the IDF hit Evin Prison in Tehran among numerous other targets
Iran says it's military is deciding on 'timing, nature, scale' of response to US strikes on nuclear facilities
US President Donald Trump suggests regime change in Tehran to 'Make Iran Great Again' Iranian media on Monday reported damage in and around the country's infamous Evin Prison. Semi-official broadcaster Tasnim reported that an electricity feeder in the capital's northern Evin neighborhood was hit, though said there had been no reports of widespread power outages.
Iranian state television also reported a suspected Israeli strike on the gate of the prison, which often houses dual-nationals, Westerners and political prisoners.
The facility is on numerous Western sanctions lists and run by the country's Revolutionary Guard.
Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday announced that "the IDF is now attacking with unprecedented force regime targets and government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran, including the Basij headquarters, Evin Prison for political prisoners and opponents of the regime, the 'Destruction of Israel' clock in Palestine Square, the internal security headquarters of the Revolutionary Guards, the Ideology Headquarters, and other regime targets."
Iran has repeatedly threatened the US with retaliation for its bombing of nuclear facilities in the Islamic republic. US military installations in the Middle East, the closest targets, are on high alert. So where are US troops and materials?
Here a partial list of the most important US bases in the region:
Bahrain:
Bahrain houses the headquarters of US Naval Forces Central Command and the 5th Naval Fleet — responsible for overseeing the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and sections of the Indian Ocean. The facility has been called a priority target by top Iranian advisors. Those calls also coincide with others urging the closure of the nearby Strait of Hormuz — a major chokepoint — to international shipping.
Kuwait:
Camp Arifjan, one of several US military installations in Kuwait, serves as the forward headquarters of US Army Central Command. Others include Ali Al Salem Air Base near the Iraqi border, known as "The Rock" for its isolated, rugged environment; and Camp Buehring, a staging post for US Army troops deploying into Iraq and Syria.
Qatar:
The largest US base in the Middle East is Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. A sprawling 24-hectare complex in the desert outside the capital Doha, Al Udeid houses around 10,000 troops and serves as the forward headquarters of US Central Command — which directs US military operations from Egypt in the west to Kazakhstan in the east.
Iraq:
Iraq's Al-Asad Air Base in western Anbar province is home to US forces supporting Iraqi security forces and NATO. Iran targeted Al Asad in 2020 in retaliation for the US killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Erbil Air Base in northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region serves as a training hub for US and coalition forces.
Jordan:
Jordan's Muwaffaq al Salti Air Base near the capital Amman houses the US Air Force 32nd Expeditionary Wing, which is responsible for conducting missions across the Levant.
Saudi Arabia:
In 2024, some 2,321 US troops were stationed in Saudi Arabia. There they operate in coordination with the Saudi government and supply air and missile defense capacity and support to US military aircraft operating in the region. The US has also stationed military defense assets such as Patriot missile batteries and Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense or THAAD systems at Saudi Arabia's Prince Sultan Air Base outside Riyadh.
United Arab Emirates (UAE):
Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a critical US air hub operated together with the UAE Air Force. The base is used as a launching pad for mission support in the region as well as for reconnaissance deployments. And although it is not a formal military site, Jebel Ali Port is the US Navy's largest port of call in the Middle East.
Iran on Monday said the US would face "serious consequences" for bombing its nuclear facilities.
"This hostile act ... will widen the scope of legitimate targets of the armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran and pave the way for the extension of war in the region," said armed forces spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari.
"The fighters of Islam will inflict serious, unpredictable consequences on you with powerful and targeted [military] operations," Zolfaghari said on state television.
Zolfaghari ended his recorded statement in English, saying, "Mr. Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it."
As the world looks to the Middle East in the wake of US attacks on Iran, Fawaz Gerges, a professor of Middle Eastern politics and international relations at the London School of Economics, told DW what he thinks the world can expect from both parties in the coming days and weeks.
He addresses the risk that US President Donald Trump could turn Iran in 2025 into a remake of the 2003 Iraq disaster by pursuing an unnecessary and hard-to-end war based on misinformation.
Overall, Gerges offers a dark outlook, telling DW that Iran "could really make a massive, massive mess in the Gulf," and that he doesn't think there is "any hope for diplomacy.To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Opinions are divided over the US entering Israel's conflict with Iran. Now the world is waiting to see what happens next. Find out how we got here and what we can expect in this background article by Matthew Ward Agius.
Russia's Tass news agency on Monday reported that Tehran and Moscow are working to closely coordinate their responses to escalations in the Israel/US/Iran conflict.
The news came as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Moscow for meetings with Russian leadership.
Iran enjoys close ties to Russia, as well as to China and North Korea.
Iran's judiciary on Monday announced that "Mohammad-Amin Mahdavi Shayesteh was hanged this morning for intelligence cooperation with the Zionist regime," according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news.
Shayesteh was arrested in late 2023.
On Monday, Tasnim described him as "the head of a cyber-team affiliated with Mossad," Israel's intelligence service."
On Sunday another man was executed after being convicted of being an agent for Mossad.
Iran has carried out multiple arrests of people suspected of spying for Israel since the start of its bombing campaign against the Islamic republic on June 13.
The Israel Defense Force (IDF) took to the social media platform X to announce that its fighter jets were "attacking military infrastructure in Kermanshah, Iran," on Monday.
Israel began attacks on Kermanshah and Hamedan late Sunday. Israeli bombs also targeted the Iranian capital Tehran, as well as what it described as a missile production site in Shahroud.
North Korea on Monday condemned recent US attacks on Iran's nuclear program, calling them a violation of Iran's sovereignty.
"The Democratic People's Republic of Korea [North Korea] strongly denounces the attack on Iran by the US which ... violently trampled down the territorial integrity and security interests of a sovereign state," a government spokesperson was quoted as saying on state broadcaster KCNA.
North Korea lashed out at what it called Israel's "ceaseless war moves and territorial expansion."
"The just international community," read a statement, "should raise the voice of unanimous censure and rejection against the US and Israel's confrontational acts."
Iran and North Korea have maintained friendly ties for decades and have been suspected of cooperating on arms projects including the development of ballistic missiles.
UN monitors have previously claimed the two had resumed work on long-range missile projects.
Though experts doubt North Korea will be willing to help Iran on the nuclear end of its arms program — for fear of undermining its own deterrence — North Korea could help with the non-fissile elements of a nuclear bomb.
North Korea is thought to have secretly built at least a dozen nuclear warheads of its own as well as developing various ballistic missile systems to deliver them.
The Iranian Parliament has reportedly approved a measure to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transit choke point, after the US bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, according to Iranian state media.
The final decision rests with the country's Supreme National Security Council.
Iran has previously threatened to block the strait when faced with Western pressure. But experts say the move doesn't make sense as it's likely to hurt Iran itself, while exporters have other options to fall back on if it does.
The slim waterway between Oman and Iran connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
Large volumes of crude extracted by OPEC countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iraq from oil fields across the Persian Gulf region and consumed globally flow through the strait.
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US President Donald Trump said the biggest damage done to the nuclear sites happened "far below ground level" as shown by satellite images, though it was not clear which images he was referring to.
"Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term! The white structure shown is deeply imbedded into the rock, with even its roof well below ground level, and completely shielded from flame," Trump posted on Truth Social.
Trump is also set to meet with his national security team on Monday afternoon in the Oval Office, according to a schedule seen by CNN.
The Israeli army's spokesman, Effie Defrin, said earlier that Israel and the US were working together to assess the damage to Iran's nuclear program.
The UN nuclear watchdog said earlier that it was too early to assess the damage at the Fordo underground nuclear facility.
Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani told an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, of which the US is a permanent member, that the US decided to "destroy" diplomacy by launching attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.
"What conclusion can be drawn from this situation?" Iravani asked. "From the perspective of Western countries, Iran must 'return to the negotiating table.' But, as Iran's foreign minister mentioned, 'how can Iran return to something it never left — let alone.'"
Irvani said the Iranian military will decide the "timing, nature and scale of Iran's proportionate response."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said after US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities that his nation "reserves all options" in responding to the attack.
"The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences,' he said in a statement on X. "In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions allowing a legitimate response in self-defense, Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people."
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese backed calls for de-escalation following US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, writing: "We urge Iran not to take any further action that could destabilize the region."
The comments follow Foreign Minister Penny Wong's statement of support for US strikes on nuclear facilities because she said her country was in favor of any action to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.
But she added that Australia was joining calls from Britain and other countries for Iran to return to the negotiating table, telling reporters in Canberra that "We do not want to see escalation."
There are around 2,900 Australians in Iran and 1,300 in Iraq who are seeking to leave.
On Saturday (US time), US President Donald Trump announced US forces had attacked Iran's Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan nuclear facilities.
The Pentagon on Sunday confirmed seven B-2 Spirit bombers flew non-stop from a US Air Force base in Missouri to launch the attacks before returning home.
Among the payload were 30,000-pound (13,600-kilogram) "bunker-busting" warheads, thought to be the only weapon capable of penetrating deep below the surface to strike at Iran's subterranean nuclear facilities, and a key reason why the US entered into the conflict.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 videoFrance is mobilizing military planes to help evacuate its citizens from Israel to Cyprus if the Israeli government allows it, the French Foreign Ministry said.
The French government already repatriated 160 French citizens on an evacuation flight from Jordan on Sunday, and plans similar flights Monday and Tuesday, the ministry said in a statement.
The flights were announced after French President Emmanuel Macron held an emergency security meeting about the conflict in the Middle East.
France has warned its nationals against traveling to Israel, and urged all French citizens in Iran to leave.
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Iranians express shock and fear after US attack – DW – 06/23/2025
Ordinary Iranians are caught between the regime in Tehran and a bombing campaign from the US and Israel. In the space of less than two weeks, Iranians have witnessed the two top adversaries of the Islamic Republic carry out unprecedented attacks, raising fear and uncertainty to a level not seen for decades. As of Saturday, Iran's Health Ministry estimates at least 430 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since June 13, with over 3,500 injured. Millions of people have left their homes. After the US entered the conflict over the weekend with a massive bombing mission targeting key nuclear enrichment sites, all eyes are now watching how the regime in Tehran will respond. Both US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have teased the idea of "regime change" in Iran as a potential consequence of the ongoing military campaign. However, most experts agree that a change of government in Iran cannot be accomplished by bombing campaigns, and would have to emerge from within. As US and Israeli bombing increases pressure on Iran's leadership from the outside, a plausible option for the regime would be to reach for very effective and long-standing tactics of violent repression on its own citizens to ward off any domestic threat to its grip on power. DW turned to Iranian social media to get an idea of what people are thinking. DW is banned from reporting on the ground or broadcasting in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Many social media users in Iran are concerned that if the Islamic Republic remains in power, the regime could take revenge on the Iranian people for its political and military humiliations. Word on social media is spreading about a growing number of arrests inside Iran under accusations of "supporting Israel." Executions related to alleged ties with Israel have also increased. On Sunday, June 22, the Iranian judiciary's official news agency reported the execution of Majid Masibi, who was accused of "spying for Israel." Authorities claimed he had been in contact with Israel's Mossad intelligence agency. Just a week earlier, the Islamic Republic executed another individual on similar charges of "espionage for Israel." Many Iranians living abroad have taken to social media to express deep concern for their families in Iran. Some have written that they are now seriously considering leaving Iran, or are considering sending their children to neighboring countries such as Turkey or Armenia in the coming days, especially if the conflict escalates further. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video After the US attack on the Fordo nuclear enrichment site, one user said he fears what the regime will do in response. "The world was terrifying with the Islamic Republic in power. But if the regime survives these attacks, the world will become an even more terrifying place — far worse than before." Many users expressed the view that US and Israeli military strikes alone cannot bring down the Islamic Republic. They argued that only a popular uprising within Iran, driven by the people themselves, can lead to the fall of the regime. After the US attacks, the Iranian government tried to downplay the impacts, while communicating to the public that it would respond decisively. The Islamic Republic's nuclear program has also been a source of power and legitimacy domestically. Some state-affiliated media outlets in Iran have published videos claiming that life near the Fordo nuclear facility remains normal and that residents are continuing with their daily routines. DW cannot independently verify the authenticity of these videos. Gaukhar Mukhatzhanova from the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation told DW that at this time it is very difficult to verify the extent of the damage to Fordo. "We can see some damage from the satellite imagery, but do not know the real extent, and what it's going to take," she said. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Mukhatzhanova added that UN inspectors remain in Iran and are ready to resume their verification work "once it is safe." Iranian social media users willing to criticize the regime spoke of the enormous financial cost of the decades-long nuclear program, especially now as materiel and infrastructure are being destroyed. Many commented that had the regime invested those resources in job creation or national development instead of military ambitions, Iran would not be facing a war today, and the country would likely enjoy a much stronger economic, social, and political position. As Iranians wait for what comes next, social media users say checkpoints have been established at the entrances of many cities across Iran to inspect citizens. "They can't confront American and Israeli warplanes in the sky, so they've set up checkpoints on the ground — for the people," one social media user commented in response. Reza Pahlavi, a prominent Iranian pro-democracy leader, posted on X that the strikes on the nuclear sites were "the result of the regime's catastrophic pursuit of nuclear weapons at the expense of the Iranian people." "Ali Khamenei and his crumbling terrorist regime have failed the nation. [...] The only sure way to achieve peace is for this regime to now end." According to the Netherlands-based Group for Analyzing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran (GAMAAN), more than 80% of Iran's literate population did not support the Islamic Republic as of 2023. However, the regime's supporters among the Iranian public remain very active and vocal. Along with public demonstrations against the US and Israeli attacks, many supporters have also taken to social media. Mohsen Borhani, an Iran-based lawyer, posted on X that Trump's strike on Iran's nuclear sites "made a mockery of all principles of international law." Other regime supporters are calling for "revenge" strikes on US interests. Robert Chatterjee, deputy editor of Zenith Magazine, which focuses on the Arab and Islamic world, told DW that Iran's military options for responding to US attacks are quite limited. "There are some strategic options, although they are rather short-term than mid- or long-term options," he said. "One option would be to activate a network of regional allies to attack US personnel or bases. I think that is quite unlikely, not least because first of all Iran's not interested in drawing the US even more into this war," he added. Other regime supporters on social media argue that Iran now has the right to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), claiming that there is no longer any justification for remaining a party to the global agreement. However, Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist and human rights activist, posted on X that it is clear the Fordo nuclear site "was never about peaceful energy." "It was built under a mountain to hide a nuclear program from the world, while the regime told its own people they couldn't even afford clean water or shelter. Now, the same regime is at war, and still hasn't built a single bomb shelter for its people. They protect uranium. They protect power. They never protect Iranians." To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
DW
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- DW
Why India-US relations have hit a rough patch – DW – 06/23/2025
Tensions are rising between India and the US after Washington claimed it helped broker a ceasefire between India and Pakistan by leveraging trade talks. US President Donald Trump's claim that he personally brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan during last month's conflict has caused some diplomatic friction. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Trump in a telephone call that the ceasefire was achieved through talks between the Indian and Pakistani militaries — and not US mediation, India's foreign secretary, Vikram Misri, said in a statement following the call. "PM Modi told President Trump clearly that during this period, there was no talk at any stage on subjects like India-US trade deal or US mediation between India and Pakistan," Misri said. "Prime Minister Modi emphasised that India has not accepted mediation in the past and never will." There was no separate readout of the call from the White House. Modi and Trump were scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Canada, but didn't because of the US president's hasty departure due to the situation in the Middle East. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Although Modi and Trump enjoy a personal rapport, there is a belief that Trump's unpredictability and transactional approach to foreign policy matters may be straining the relationship. India is currently negotiating a trade deal with the US, but talks have encountered hurdles as the July 9 deadline approaches for the end of a 90-day pause on most tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Ajay Bisaria, a former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, told DW that India has so far handled Trump with strategic composure. "But when the US President repeatedly and publicly claims an outsized role in mediating the recent India-Pakistan conflict, expect public corrections from India," said Bisaria. "Public opinion in India now tends to see the US as an unreliable partner," Bisaria added. Bisaria also mentioned that while Delhi understands that the India-US relationship is deeper than White House pronouncements, it cannot ignore public diplomacy challenges. "Each time Washington indulges Pakistan's military — like President Trump's recent lunch with its army chief General Asim Munir — it sends the wrong signal." India has accused Pakistan of "supporting terrorism" from across the border after the April 22 attack on civilians in India-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people. The attack was claimed by a group calling itself the Kashmir Resistance, which India says is also known as The Resistance Front and is linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a UN-designated terrorist organization. New Delhi blamed Islamabad for backing the attack, an allegation Pakistan denies. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The lunch meeting between Trump and Munir, which took place at the White House last week, was a unique event as it marked the first time a sitting US president officially hosted a Pakistani army chief who was not also serving as the head of state. Many viewed it as a provocative move given the recent tensions. "India's diplomatic message to the US will remain clear — sanction, don't embrace, Pakistan's generals," added Bisaria. However, Meera Shankar, a former Indian envoy to the US, had a different take. She said it was perhaps somewhat clumsy to rebut Trump's claims of having brokered an end to the recent India Pakistan conflict, since India did not seek a full-scale conflict. Shankar added that it is possible that the Trump administration helped to persuade Pakistan to pull back. "The Indian government was facing domestic criticism for allowing foreign intervention and I think the rebuttal was responding to this," she told DW. "The feting of Asim Munir in the US must be seen in the context of the US military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. It is likely that the US was seeking some facilities from Pakistan in this context." Shankar added that there is concern that the India-US Strategic Partnership is coming under stress because of missteps from the US administration. "There is a need to show sensitivity to each other's concerns and to strengthen communication," she noted. Despite the tensions, the US cannot afford to isolate India in countering China's rise in the Indo-Pacific region. India will host the 2025 Quad Summit in September where Trump is expected to attend. The group — made up of the US, Japan, Australia and India — focuses on promoting stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in response to China's assertiveness. The last time the Indian and US leaders met was in February after Trump was sworn in for his second presidential term, underscoring the importance both men placed on their relationship. Amitabh Mattoo, dean of the School of International Studies at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University, told DW that the recent developments have introduced friction and mistrust into the relationship. "The US has pursued short-term and deal-based diplomacy and this transactional approach has undermined mutual trust and fostered a sense of unpredictability," said Mattoo. "This raises concerns about India's relations with the Trump administration … but the partnership can overcome challenges and shape a better, durable future — and also offer an opportunity for renewal," added Mattoo. 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DW
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NATO summit: Trump set to win big on defense spending – DW – 06/23/2025
Iran will be high on the agenda at the NATO summit, but its main focus is expected to be on a massive increase in defense spending. The agreement is set to please US President Donald Trump. Much of the attention at this week's NATO summit in The Hague will likely be on US President Donald Trump, following the US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites over the weekend. But ramping up defense spending, a major demand by Trump and his administration since day one, will also be in the spotlight. This goal has become potentially acceptable to almost all NATO countries thanks to the persuasive power of Secretary-General Mark Rutte, particularly after Germany, the biggest European economy, threw its weight behind it. Officials at NATO told DW that it's about giving Trump a win but also "about rebalancing in the alliance," as one senior diplomat put it, stressing that if that's achieved, the summit would be a resounding success. "Hopefully, Trump is not going to leave early like he did from the recent G7 meeting in Canada," Jamie Shea, a former NATO official, told DW. This worst-case scenario is a big concern for some NATO allies and something they want to avoid at any price. Shea said he thinks "it's important for Trump to be there to learn about all of the good things that NATO is doing at the moment, which help America's security and not just Europe's security." The goal of spending 5% of GDP on defense, expected to be approved at the summit in The Hague this week, is highly ambitious, and has the potential to transform societies in Europe. In many EU countries, social justice and economic stability were the clear priorities for national governments for decades; in the future they might concentrate on strengthening military power and becoming more independent from the United States. This scenario has led to growing resistance in some parts of Europe. Spain had been against the measure, but ultimately dropped its opposition on Sunday after a deal was reached for it to be exempt. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Asked about how he would explain his plan to citizens in Europe who are against social cuts in favor of new weapons, Rutte recently said leaders need to act now because "otherwise, four or five years from now, we are really under threat and then you have to get your Russian language course or go to New Zealand." Rutte's idea is to cut the cake into two pieces and to allocate 3.5% of GDP to core defense needs and 1.5% to security-related investments. These investments include building broader roads and bridges that could carry heavy weaponry but also upgrades on cybersecurity, measures against hybrid attacks, civil protection and aid for Ukraine. Members of the alliance will try to factor in what they are already spending, for instance, on infrastructure, diplomats at NATO acknowledge. But they also stress that the fact that allies were able to agree on the exact definition of the 1.5% target is already a significant success. The biggest challenge is getting everyone on board with the 3.5% target for core military spending. Spain, which has the lowest military spending in the alliance, signaled prior to the summit that it wanted a carve-out. Other nations, like Italy, are demanding more time than the proposed seven years to meet the obligation. Many NATO members are ready to spend more but refuse to commit to yearly plans — a kind of control mechanism — also proposed by Rutte. In the end, it comes down to NATO's credibility, Lithuania's former foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, told DW. The alliance "is moving in the right direction," he said. But like many representatives of the countries on NATO's Eastern flank in proximity to Russia, he warns against not being serious about fulfilling the new spending pledge. "What if it is just to have a nice summit and everyone leaves happy, and then nothing really happens?" In addition, many Europeans are unhappy about the apparent lack of any ambition when it comes to Ukraine. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been invited to the summit, his aspirations to join NATO are unlikely to take center stage at the summit or be prominently featured in the final declaration "Clearly, the United States in particular has wanted to play it down," explained former NATO official Shea. "So, for Ukraine, it is going to be a rather disappointing NATO summit." There will be a sentence or two as a reference to Russia as a threat in the final document, NATO sources told DW, but no new tough language, given the ongoing US attempts to get both countries to the negotiating table. Kristine Berzina, a NATO expert with the German Marshall Fund think tank, said it's important to look at the bigger picture. "We get so obsessed with the little declarations and paragraphs about such and such," she told DW. What really matters is that "NATO is a strong political alliance and the people at the table believe in each other." That is what she expects to be the summit's strong message. "Of course, it is about Russia. Talking about the ambitious new steps they're going to take is a signal to Russia," Berzina said. Still, the summit declaration is expected to be "short and crisp," as one diplomat put it, and the event is deliberately planned as a brief exchange not to bore Trump, who's known for not being a fan of long speeches by others, and of multilateral organizations in general. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The big risk is that, with the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, Trump may not travel to The Hague at all, according to media reports in the US. At NATO HQ in Brussels, diplomats have so far said they do not have any indication that Trump won't be there. So, is the NATO summit just about pleasing Trump, as the program, including a dinner with the Dutch king, an invitation to play golf in the Netherlands and the expected big spending splash, indicates? In the end, it's about the Europeans, said Shea. "The 5% of GDP for defense spending is to deter Russia, to keep Europe and NATO citizens safe, sleeping soundly in their beds at night." But he also admitted that "provided the decision on the 5% is taken, Trump should go back to Washington a happy man."To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
