US President Donald Trump’s controversial and often aggressive remarks dominated the recent NATO summit in Ankara, overshadowing efforts by allies to demonstrate unity and increased defense commitments. Despite NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s hopes that the US would appreciate European allies for boosting defense investments by over one trillion dollars, and his praise for Trump’s role in pushing record military spending, a friendly mood proved elusive.
Even as member state ambassadors had previously approved a statement affirming their “unwavering commitment” to collective defense, President Trump announced the end of a truce with Iran, insulted Spain, and reiterated threats to seize Greenland. While he reportedly told leaders at the official North Atlantic Council meeting that the US intended to remain in NATO, and was described as “much more affable” during the formal session by the Financial Times, the underlying tension persisted.
Trump’s aggressive statements were largely in response to renewed fighting between the US and Iran. On Tuesday, the US military struck 80 targets, officially stated as a response to alleged Iranian interference with commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran, however, did not claim responsibility for these initial attacks. Iran retaliated on Wednesday with strikes on US bases located in Bahrain and Kuwait.
The US President did not mince words regarding Iran, claiming Iranians were liars and that negotiating with them was futile, even insultingly describing them as a “cancer.” He did, however, add that his diplomats could continue talks if deemed appropriate. The escalating tensions immediately impacted markets, with oil prices seeing a slight increase of roughly six percent, reaching $74 (€65) per barrel.
An EU spokesperson called for all parties to respect the truce and pursue a diplomatic solution. In contrast, NATO’s Rutte stated during the summit that the strikes on Iran were “necessary” for Israel, “the region,” and the rest of the world—a position that notably conflicted with several European countries. Observers expressed skepticism about Trump’s pronouncements, noting his tendency to change his mind and warning that further escalation in the Middle East could negatively impact Republicans in the November congressional elections.
Trump also directed sharp criticism towards Spain, calling it a “wasted cause” and stating, “I have not spoken with Spain.” This followed his past criticisms of the country. Last year, Spain was the only nation to refuse commitment to NATO’s plan to invest five percent of GDP in defense by 2035. Furthermore, the government of Pedro Sánchez, a vocal critic of the conflict in Iran, had banned overflights by American aircraft involved in the strikes.
During a later bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump issued another threat to Iran, declaring, “At night we will hit them hard.” Zelensky, when asked by Trump about visiting Moscow for talks, responded that it would be dangerous due to “too many Ukrainian drones” there. Despite the contentious atmosphere, leaders at the summit committed to providing Ukraine with military aid exceeding €70 billion in 2026, with at least the same amount pledged for 2027. Trump himself, despite the awkwardness generated by his remarks, described the summit as “great” and “full of love.”
