ANKARA (Reuters) – NATO’s European leaders gathered in Ankara on Wednesday for a summit aimed at persuading U.S. President Donald Trump to remain committed to the military alliance. Trump launched a new wave of attacks on Iran as he revived disputes over the Iran war and Greenland.
Arriving in the Turkish capital on Tuesday, Trump lashed out, saying allies were not standing with the U.S. in the Iran war, and noted he might have boycotted the meeting were it not for his friendship with host President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The U.S. also carried out new military strikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks on three tankers and revoked the license allowing Iran to sell oil. The move dealt a final blow to the fragile ceasefire agreement in the war, which has caused deep discontent in Europe.
Rutte: U.S. Iran strikes 'absolutely necessary'
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte defended the new U.S. strikes as 'absolutely necessary' and described Trump’s frustration with allies as 'isolated cases.'
In remarks to reporters ahead of the summit, Rutte said, 'You have a ceasefire, and Iran is essentially violating it. I think it is extremely important that the U.S. responds forcefully.'
NATO on Tuesday announced a series of arms deals worth at least $50 billion, aimed at showing that European members are heeding Trump’s calls to spend more on their own defense and be less dependent on the U.S.
Trump, a fierce critic of NATO in both his first and second presidential terms, said he was 'very disappointed' with the alliance and that the U.S. was not 'treated well' during the U.S.-Israel war against Iran.
Speaking alongside Erdoğan on Tuesday, Trump said, 'Why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they’re not there for us? We’ve always been there for them.'
Trump accused European nations of not allowing U.S. forces to use their airspace and bases during the war. European officials, however, said they had largely fulfilled their commitments to U.S. forces, despite not being consulted about a conflict that has upended their economies.
Trump targets former ally Meloni
Trump in recent weeks has made his formerly close ally, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a target of criticism. On Tuesday, Trump said his relationship with Meloni had 'deteriorated somewhat because she refused to help us with Iran,' while calling her 'a good person.' Italian officials have been trying to defuse the tension in recent days.
Trump also reiterated that Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark, should be controlled by the U.S. Such claims have long strained relations between Washington and Copenhagen, as well as broader U.S.-Europe ties.
In a statement in Ankara, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said, 'We are ready to defend every inch of NATO territory, including our own... Of course we will defend the Kingdom of Denmark,' and reiterated that Greenland is not for sale. Frederiksen added, 'One of the reasons we founded NATO many years ago is that if something happens to one of us, everyone must stand together.'
Summit declaration reaffirms collective defense commitment
The 32 NATO leaders gathered for a dinner on Tuesday evening, but the main session of the summit takes place on Wednesday. Ambassadors of all NATO members approved a summit declaration containing a pledge of 'unwavering commitment' to collective defense. However, the declaration will be published after being endorsed by the leaders.
The Trump administration has pushed Europeans to increase defense spending and take primary responsibility for Europe’s conventional defense, as it seeks to shift its military focus to the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. has also decided to withdraw troops from Europe, reduce forces allocated to NATO defense plans (including an aircraft carrier, refueling aircraft, fighter jets, and drones), and launch a six-month review of its military presence on the continent.
European leaders say they are trying to take more responsibility for the continent’s security, but want a predictable and orderly transition to avoid defense gaps that could be exploited by Russia. European officials expressed hope that Trump’s respect for Erdoğan and his good relationship with Rutte would help defuse tensions at the summit.
