NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte met with President Trump at the White House to address escalating tensions regarding Iran and potential U.S. troop reductions in Europe. The visit precedes a crucial NATO summit in Ankara next month. Rutte attempted to soothe concerns by characterizing instances of allied hesitation regarding potential U.S. conflict with Iran as infrequent occurrences. He employed a strategy combining praise for Trump with subtle disagreement on the issue. The aim of the meeting was to mitigate strains in the transatlantic alliance before the summit. The discussions focused on securing continued commitment from the U.S. to European security and addressing differing perspectives on Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence.