President Trump is set to conduct a press conference on Wednesday as he concludes the NATO summit, coinciding with the U.S. escalating military operations in Iran. During this time, NATO’s Secretary General expressed his support for the actions taken by the U.S., stating, “I’m with you on this.”
This backing from NATO comes as President Trump has been pressing member countries to increase their defense spending. Secretary General Mark Rutte described the U.S. strikes as “absolutely necessary” following Iranian attacks on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. “It was a very strong response, and I’m with you on this,” Rutte affirmed while seated alongside Trump.
The two-day NATO summit is concluding in Ankara, Turkey, where President Trump noted the strong ties between the U.S. and Turkey, contrasting them with some traditional NATO allies. He has urged NATO nations to allocate 5% of their GDP toward defense, expressing frustration with those he perceives as not contributing adequately. Additionally, he has criticized certain NATO members for their lack of involvement in the U.S.-Iran conflict and continues to show interest in the potential acquisition of Greenland.
On Tuesday, Trump emphasized the importance of U.S. assistance to Turkey, which he believes has been more beneficial to the U.S. than several other longstanding allies. He also announced plans to lift some sanctions on Turkey and is contemplating allowing the country back into the F-35 fighter jet program, from which it was expelled in 2019 due to concerns over its use of Russian defense technology. In 2020, Congress enacted legislation that effectively barred the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey.
Despite lingering concerns among some Republicans regarding Turkey’s potential acquisition of F-35s, Trump expressed his lack of worries about Turkey and commended President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. “I have no concerns at all about anything,” he stated. “He’s a leader of a country that he’s made a much better country, much more powerful country. You see it — the roads are beautiful; it’s an amazing thing.”
Rising tensions with Iran have put the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding at risk, especially after Iran’s attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. revocation of a general license allowing Iran to sell oil. This sale was seen as a crucial element for advancing negotiations involving Iran.
During the NATO summit, Trump is also meeting with several world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine remains a significant issue among NATO allies, with no resolution in sight. “It’s too bad it took so long,” Trump remarked about the situation in Ukraine. “But I think there’s going to be … something’s going to come out.”
