President Donald Trump delivered a resounding endorsement of NATO this week, marking a sharp turnaround in his years-long, often contentious relationship with the alliance.Once known for blasting allies over defense spending and even threatening to pull out of NATO altogether, Trump now appears to have had a change of heart."I left here differently. I left here saying that these people really love their countries," Trump said after the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague.The pivot comes as NATO nations more than doubled their collective defense spending target raising the bar from 2% to 5% of GDP.WORLD LEADERS FLOCK TO MEET WITH TRUMP AT NATO SUMMITThe presidents renewed embrace of the alliance follows years of friction, high-profile clashes with world leaders and controversial comments. Yet at this years summit, the tone was strikingly different.Trump was welcomed by Dutch royals, praised by the NATO secretary-general who even referred to him as "daddy" and returned home lauding European allies for their patriotism. "Its not a rip-off, and were here to help them," Trump told reporters.The transformation is as dramatic as it is unexpected.Trump arrived at the NATO summit on a high note, following U.S. strikes that crippled Irans nuclear infrastructure. According to American and allied intelligence sources, the operation set back Tehrans nuclear ambitions by several years.The strike was widely seen as both a show of strength and a strategic warning not just to Iran but to NATO adversaries like Russia and China.WORLD LEADERS FLOCK TO MEET WITH TRUMP AT NATO SUMMIT"He really came in from this power move," said Giedrimas Jeglinskas, a former NATO official and current chairman of Lithuanias national security committee."Among some, definitely Eastern Europe, Central Europe, Nordic Europe, this attack, the use of those really sophisticated weapons and bombers, was the rebuilding of the deterrence narrative of the West, not just of America."Trump repeatedly called NATO "obsolete," questioning its relevance and slamming allies for failing to pay their "fair share.""Its costing us too much money... Were paying disproportionately. Its too much," he said in March 2016.He criticized NATO for lacking focus on terrorism, later taking credit when it created a chief intelligence post.Trump softened his tone after becoming president."We strongly support NATO," he said after visiting Central Command. "We only ask that all members make their full and proper financial contribution."He continued to push for members to meet the 2% target by 2024.Trump privately threatened to pull the U.S. from NATO unless allies increased spending."Now we are in World War III protecting a country that wasnt paying its bills," he warned.Despite the posturing, he called NATO a "fine-tuned machine" after extracting new spending commitments. He also accused Germany of being a "captive of Russia" over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.TRUMP HEADS TO NATO SUMMIT AS EUROPE AGREES TO HEED HIS DEFENSE SPENDING DEMANDSThe drama continued, this time with French President Emmanuel Macron calling NATO "brain-dead.""NATO serves a great purpose. I think thats very insulting," Trump responded.He also clashed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau calling him "two-faced" after Trudeau was caught mocking Trump on camera.Trump ordered 12,000 U.S. troops out of Germany, citing Berlins defense shortfalls.Trump ignited backlash after suggesting hed let Russia "do whatever the hell they want" to NATO countries that failed to meet spending obligations.The remark sparked urgent contingency talks among European leaders about the future of the alliance if the U.S. did not step up to its defense.The 2025 summit in The Hague unfolded with surprising calm. Trumps hosts rolled out the red carpet. "He's the man of the hour and the most important man in the world," Jeglinskas said.Jeglinskas credited Trumps blunt diplomacy however unorthodox for helping drive real reform "He's brought in tectonic change to the alliances capabilities by... being himself," he added. "Its a gift for the alliance."Experts agree NATOs recent revitalization stems from two major catalysts: Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Trumps relentless pressure on allies to boost defense."President Trump is riding high this week with two major foreign policy victories," said Matthew Kroenig, vice president at the Atlantic Councils Scowcroft Center, referencing NATO and the recent U.S. strikes on Irans nuclear program. "Its terrific. I hope he can keep it up."He added, "Every president since Eisenhower has complained that NATO allies aren't doing their fair share."Now, Trump was the one who finally got them to listen, he said.