Trump lashes out at NATO as first day of summit wraps in Turkiye

What Happened

On the first day of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkiye, U.S. President Donald Trump declared he was 'very disappointed with NATO,' criticizing European allies for lack of support during the U.S.-Israel war on Iran and accusing Italy, Germany, and France of turning down American requests. Trump praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, vowing to lift sanctions and consider selling F-35s, and said he might not have attended if the summit were not held in Turkiye. He also reignited tensions over Greenland, stating the territory 'should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark,' prompting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to insist Greenland is 'not for sale' and its future decided by its people. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged members to provide 'clear, concrete and credible plans' for defence spending, with updated NATO data projecting that only five members will meet the alliance’s 3.5% GDP target for core defence in 2026. On Ukraine, Zelenskyy signed new cooperation agreements with Estonia, the Netherlands, and Denmark, and announced expected deals with Germany, Norway, Finland, and Canada. Norway committed three billion Norwegian crowns ($306.2m) for Ukrainian air defences. Trump, who spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the summit, said he expected a Russia-Ukraine deal 'soon' and is scheduled to meet Zelenskyy on Wednesday.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The summit exposes deepening transatlantic fissures over burden-sharing, territorial claims, and divergent threat perceptions. Trump’s direct criticism and unilateral statements on Greenland challenge alliance cohesion at a critical moment when NATO seeks to sustain military support for Ukraine and deter Russian aggression. The friction over defence spending targets and the selective favours shown to Turkiye could reshape alliance dynamics and affect future collective security commitments.

Watch For

The main summit session on Wednesday, including the Trump-Zelenskyy bilateral meeting and any concrete pledges for sustained military aid to Ukraine in 2026–2027. Monitor announcements on F-35 sales to Turkiye and sanctions relief, as well as reactions from European allies, particularly Denmark and Greenland, to Trump’s Greenland remarks. Updated defence spending plans from member states and any joint statements on the Russia-Ukraine war will be key indicators of allied unity.