NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is set to visit Washington next week for meetings with President Donald Trump, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, according to a White House official and people familiar with the plans.

The visit had been scheduled in advance, NATO said, but it now comes amid renewed debate inside the Trump administration over whether the United States should remain in the nearly 80-year-old military alliance.

The discussions have intensified following disagreements with European allies over their response to escalating tensions with Iran.

Trump has grown increasingly frustrated that NATO members declined to join recent U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran and have resisted more aggressive measures, including proposals related to securing or reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The issue is expected to feature prominently in a prime-time address Trump is scheduled to deliver Wednesday night.

Rutte’s meeting with Trump will unfold against this backdrop of strain, but also personal rapport.

Trump has long expressed respect for Rutte, viewing him as a pragmatic and effective leader who has been more responsive than other European officials to U.S. demands on defense spending.

During Trump’s first term, Rutte was seen as one of the few European leaders able to maintain a constructive relationship with him.

At the same time, Trump’s broader skepticism toward NATO remains unchanged.

He has repeatedly questioned whether the alliance delivers sufficient value to the United States, particularly criticizing members that fall short of defense spending targets.

The upcoming talks are likely to test whether Rutte can reassure Trump about NATO’s relevance and unity at a moment when the alliance faces both external threats and internal divisions.