The traditional family photo of the representatives of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's member states, standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the alliance's blue and white logo, will have to hide the discomfort. Yet, as NATO prepares to convene its annual summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on Tuesday, June 24, and Wednesday, June 25, the diplomatic choreography among the 32 participating heads of state and government, including US President Donald Trump, promises to be a delicate balancing act. Indeed, in the background, a crisis is brewing within NATO, particularly over how to approach Russia.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has exerted intense pressure on US allies, demanding that they dedicate 5% of their gross domestic products (GDP) to defense spending, up from the current 2% benchmark, or face the risk of US withdrawal from Europe. This will be a central issue at the summit. Yet, for many heavily indebted countries, the effort demanded of them is impossible. In the days leading up to the summit, European representatives also engaged in tough negotiations to have Russia classified as a "threat," contrary to the Trump administration's position. The unease is likely to be reflected, at the very least, in the summit's final statement, which has already been described as "short" and "concise."

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