Trump targets Spain, NATO backs Ukraine: Is the alliance still united?

What Happened

During a two-day NATO summit in Ankara, member states pledged 70 billion euros in assistance to Ukraine and committed to over $50 billion in new defence procurements. Despite this consensus, United States President Donald Trump issued a trade embargo against Spain over defence spending disputes and reiterated interest in acquiring Greenland. Concurrently, President Trump announced the lifting of sanctions on Turkiye and indicated potential resumption of F-35 jet sales, while approving the sale of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The summit highlights a growing divergence between NATO's collective security objectives regarding Ukraine and the United States' increasingly transactional approach to alliance members. The use of trade embargoes against a NATO ally and the potential for shifting military sales to Turkiye suggest that internal political friction may undermine the alliance's long-term strategic cohesion.

Watch For

Monitor the implementation of the US trade embargo against Spain and the specific list of products targeted by the Treasury and Commerce Departments. Additionally, track the status of F-35 negotiations with Turkiye, particularly given opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the progress of the 70 billion euro aid package for Ukraine.