Mayor Jan van Zanen of The Hague said Saturday the city is fully prepared for next week’s NATO summit during a visit to a special newspaper pickup point for residents near the World Forum. Due to security measures, people living close to the summit venue will not have newspapers delivered to their homes for a week and must collect them at a designated location, AD reported.
“We are tight, and we are trained,” Van Zanen said, describing the city’s readiness efforts. “The experience shows that new developments arise daily — arrivals may shift, or Spain may raise objections,” Van Zanen added, referring to Spain’s resistance against U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for NATO members to raise defense spending to 5 percent of GDP.
Despite this, Van Zanen expressed confidence the world leaders attending will reach agreements. “I assume the leaders gathered here will find a way to make wise decisions at this moment in world history.”
Demissionary Prime Minister Dick Schoof confirmed Friday that President Trump will attend only the World Forum and Huis ten Bosch during his visit. “I have yet to see all his plans,” Van Zanen added.
Reflecting on past summits, Van Zanen noted differences from the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit, when former President Barack Obama visited the Gemeentemuseum to see Piet Mondriaan’s Victory Boogie Woogie. “The situation is different now,” he said. “But it’s important that the world sees The Hague. In the coming days, the city will be shown around the world, and it will look impressive on camera.”
The NATO summit is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday and expects 45 heads of state and government along with approximately 9,000 visitors.