ANKARA – NATO leaders gathered in Ankara on Wednesday for a high-stakes summit aimed at reaffirming the alliance’s unity, as US President Donald Trump renewed criticism of European allies over the conflict with Iran, defence spending and the issue of Greenland.
Arriving in the Turkish capital, Trump questioned the commitment of NATO allies during the recent confrontation with Iran, saying he had considered skipping the summit and attended largely because of his relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
His remarks came after the United States carried out another wave of military strikes on targets in Iran and revoked a licence that had allowed Tehran to export oil, citing attacks on commercial tankers. The latest escalation has added further strain to an already fragile ceasefire.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte defended the US military action, describing the strikes as a necessary response to alleged Iranian violations of the ceasefire.
“When a ceasefire is repeatedly violated, it is essential that the United States responds decisively,” Rutte told reporters ahead of the summit.
Ahead of the meeting, NATO announced new defence agreements worth at least $50 billion, underscoring efforts by European members to increase military spending and reduce reliance on the United States in line with Washington’s long-standing demands.
Trump reiterated his dissatisfaction with NATO, claiming European allies had failed to adequately support the United States during the conflict involving Iran and Israel.
“We have always stood by our allies, but they were not there for us,” he said during a joint appearance with Erdoğan.
The US president also accused several European countries of limiting access to their airspace and military bases during the conflict. European officials have rejected those claims, maintaining that they honoured their alliance commitments despite concerns over the conflict.
Trump also criticised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, saying relations had cooled after Italy declined to support US actions related to Iran, although he described her as “a nice person.” Italian officials have since sought to ease tensions.
The US president also renewed his assertion that Greenland should come under American control, a position that has repeatedly been rejected by Denmark.
Responding to the comments, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Denmark remained committed to defending all NATO territory, including Greenland.
“Every part of NATO territory will be defended. Greenland is not for sale,” Frederiksen said, reaffirming the alliance’s principle of collective defence.
The summit’s main session is expected to conclude with leaders endorsing a declaration reaffirming NATO’s commitment to mutual defence under Article 5 of the alliance treaty.
The Trump administration has continued pressing European allies to assume greater responsibility for the continent’s security while shifting more US military resources toward the Indo-Pacific region. Washington has also announced reductions in its military presence in Europe, including planned troop withdrawals and cuts to forces assigned to NATO missions.
European leaders say they are prepared to strengthen their own defence capabilities but are seeking a gradual and coordinated transition to ensure there are no security gaps that could be exploited by Russia. They also hope Trump’s close ties with President Erdoğan and Secretary General Rutte will help maintain unity within the alliance despite ongoing disagreements.
US and Iran trade fresh strikes after attacks in Strait of Hormuz
