During the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, President Donald Trump exhibited a mix of emotions, expressing that he felt significant affection from Western leaders. This sentiment came just hours after he criticized them for their defense expenditures and their lack of support for U.S. military actions against Iran.
Trump’s fluctuating demeanor marked the latter part of the two-day conference, where he began by denouncing Iran’s leadership in harsh terms and reiterated his longstanding desire for control over Greenland. However, in a private session with 32 NATO leaders, Trump shifted to a more conciliatory approach, opting not to revisit previous criticisms and instead emphasizing a desire for unity among allies, asserting, “we want to remain with you.”
Following the private meeting, Trump described the atmosphere as one filled with “love” and “unity” during a bilateral discussion with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where he unexpectedly offered to license the production of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.
Trump concluded the summit with an extensive press conference that diverged from NATO discussions, where he praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, boasted about the U.S. economy, and even mentioned his popularity on TikTok.
Despite his abrupt transition from critic to supporter of NATO, Trump stated, “if there’s one word that comes out of today it’s unification,” suggesting a positive outcome for the alliance amid concerns about its stability. The summit’s final declaration, which Trump and the leaders of 31 other member nations endorsed, reiterated their “ironclad commitment” to Article 5—stating that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
However, the summit concluded without a specific date for the next leaders’ meeting, which is expected to occur in Albania, where anti-Trump demonstrations are ongoing. Speculation arose that this meeting might be postponed until 2028.
European leaders expressed concerns over Trump’s mood following a dinner the night before, particularly regarding his disappointment over the U.S. soccer team’s recent loss to Belgium. Their worries seemed justified when Trump took the stage with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, beginning his remarks with a lengthy list of grievances against NATO and specific member nations, as well as renewed criticism of Iran’s leadership.
Trump voiced his dissatisfaction with NATO, claiming that member countries were unwilling to assist the U.S. in dealing with Iran, which he labeled the “number one state sponsor of terror.” He pointed out that other European nations, with the exception of the UK, had refused to support U.S. bombing missions from European bases.
He directed particular criticism at the UK for initially denying the U.S. use of RAF Fairford for military operations against Iran, noting, “The United Kingdom wouldn’t let us use the island for two weeks,” before the British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, allowed limited strikes on Iranian missile locations.
Trump also revisited his earlier comments regarding Greenland, insisting that the territory was crucial for the United States, despite Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen clearly stating that Greenland is “not for sale” and emphasizing Denmark’s commitment to defend its territory.
Moreover, Trump reiterated his grievances regarding NATO’s defense spending, despite last year’s agreement among members, with the sole exception of Spain, to increase national defense budgets to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, aiming to align European and Canadian expenditures with those of the U.S.
Expressing frustration, Trump stated, “I’m very upset with NATO, that we pay far, far too much,” asserting that the U.S. bears an unfair financial burden in protecting its allies. His ire was particularly directed at Spain for not agreeing to the spending target, stating, “Spain doesn’t agree to anything, and you shouldn’t carry them.” This comment led to a brief interaction with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who acknowledged Trump’s remarks.
Rutte attempted to manage the situation with a mix of flattery and assertive interruptions, which seemed to ease Trump’s frustration as he acknowledged the President’s role in encouraging European NATO members to increase their defense spending. Rutte remarked, “You did what [President Dwight] Eisenhower tried to do. It’s your win,” to which Trump responded positively.
However, when prompted about the ceasefire with Iran, Trump indicated he believed it was over, reiterating his disdain by stating, “I don’t want to deal with them any more. They’re scum.”
These developments overshadowed NATO’s aspirations for what was intended to be a “delivery summit,” particularly following the pledge to raise defense spending, with over $50 billion in international arms contracts unveiled during the meeting, including a commitment from twelve nations to develop deep strike missiles with ranges exceeding 2,000 kilometers.
