NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte holds press conference

Russian outlets describe Mark Rutte as politically exposed, saying NATO advised him to keep a lower profile after Trump’s criticism. They stress that NATO is holding active internal talks on the Strait of Hormuz but suggest the alliance is divided and image-conscious. These reports expect NATO leaders to tread carefully in public while trying to manage both Trump’s attacks and the Hormuz crisis.

• •NATO members are holding active internal discussions on how to handle the Strait of Hormuz issue.
• •Mark Rutte has been advised within NATO circles to lay low after Trump’s public criticism.
• •The alliance is portrayed as worried about how Trump’s attacks affect its public image.
• •Rutte’s outdoor press conference with soldiers in cold weather is depicted as a staged show of resolve.
• •Future NATO messaging on Hormuz is expected to be cautious and tightly managed.