Trump whirlwind tests NATO gathering unity

Will he play nice? That was the question for NATO leaders nervously waiting to see if a carefully choreographed show to please US President Donald Trump would pay dividends as the alliance summit began on Wednesday.

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Every precaution is in place to avoid a Trump blow-up at The Hague gathering, from giving him credit for a historic spending deal to keeping the meeting short and sweet.

But that did not stop the volatile US leader launching a pre-summit grenade as he crossed the Atlantic on Air Force One, casting doubt on the very foundation of the 32-member alliance.

He refused to state his commitment to NATO's Article Five clause, the basic agreement that says an attack on one member is an attack on all.

"Depends on your definition. There's numerous definitions of Article Five," Trump told journalists in comments sure to rattle the European allies he dined with upon arrival on Tuesday night.

"I'm committed to being their friend," he said.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte played down the comments as the summit opened on Wednesday, saying he believed Trump and the United States were still "totally committed" to Article Five.