The NATO summit in Ankara was marked by a stark contrast between the alliance’s critical mission to rearm Europe and the disruptive presence of US President Donald Trump. While delegates focused on bolstering defence capabilities, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an urgent plea for anti-ballistic systems in the wake of devastating Russian attacks, underscoring Europe’s pressing defence challenges.
US President Donald Trump, who has openly expressed his disdain for NATO, received a ceremonial welcome upon his arrival in Ankara, personally greeted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the airport. The elaborate reception included black-clad Turkish police, giant blue banners proclaiming “The Key to Peace,” a band playing the Stars and Stripes, and a flypast by Turkish air force jets trailing red, white, and blue smoke, as the two leaders walked arm-in-arm.
Despite the grand welcome, Trump’s inflammatory remarks punctuated the summit’s carefully crafted image of unity. Soon after landing, he reiterated his belief that the US should acquire Greenland, an island that is part of fellow NATO member Denmark. He acknowledged that his earlier comments on the subject had strained relations within the alliance, with Denmark’s prime minister previously stating that any forceful US takeover of Greenland would spell the end of NATO.
Trump also expressed bitterness over his NATO allies’ refusal to join his “war of choice” against Iran earlier this year, a conflict he initiated without allied consultation and which significantly disrupted the global economy. He specifically criticized the UK, despite Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer permitting the launch of airstrikes on Iranian missile sites from British airbases. Trump stated, “He said no we’ll help after the war is over. I said I don’t want that kind of help. We didn’t need any help at all. In a way I was testing people, I was testing to see whether or not they’d be there because I’ve long said that we help them but I’m not sure that they’d be there for us.”
The British delegation, meanwhile, worked to promote defence collaboration with European partners. However, Sir Keir Starmer, attending his final NATO summit, faced criticism for his Defence Investment Plan, which has been derided for falling billions of pounds short of the requirements outlined in last year’s highly praised Strategic Defence Review.
Beyond the political optics and speeches, NATO delegates engaged in the serious business of rearming Europe and exploring enhanced cooperation among their defence industries. Significant contracts were announced, including a new fleet of transport aircraft to be built by Airbus, and the replacement of NATO’s aging AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) early warning aircraft with Sweden’s GlobeEye planes. Discussions also focused on joint missile projects.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, present at the summit, highlighted the critical need for robust air defence, drawing on his country’s harrowing experience. He noted that Russia’s ballistic missiles have recently struck residential buildings in Kyiv, killing dozens of civilians, with Ukrainian air defence teams reporting a desperate shortage of interceptors. “Europe needs its own effective anti-ballistic system and missiles,” President Zelensky urged. “And this work is already under way and I urge you and all of our partners to give it the attention it deserves. And this cannot wait until 2030 or beyond, Europe needs affordable mass-produced anti-ballistic systems as soon as possible.”
Zelensky’s plea resonated with the broader concern that as the US steadily reduces its defence commitments to Europe, the continent must rapidly build credible air defences against Russia’s growing arsenal of powerful missiles and drones. A prevailing fear among delegates is that once the war in Ukraine concludes, Russia could embark on a rapid rearmament program, potentially posing a threat to NATO territory within four years.
