NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has flown to the US state of Florida to meet the US President-elect before he starts his second term in the White House next year.
The aircraft landed near Mar-a-Lago, the estate of Donald Trump, who was recently elected President of the United States. Rutte plans to visit Trump, insiders confirmed to the Dutch public broadcaster NOS.
NATO has rented the Dutch Government plane, a common practice among Member States of the military alliance.
Trump has been critical of NATO. He has repeatedly criticised Member States for not contributing enough financially to the alliance and has threatened not to respond if one of the members is attacked.
This puts Article 5, the core of alliance, into question: if one member is attacked, all members will militarily support the country. Rutte will strive to maintain good relations with Trump.
