Donald Trump dominated the opening of the NATO summit in Turkey, where alliance leaders met to discuss Europe’s defence buildup, support for Ukraine and the future of transatlantic security.
Ankara was under heavy security, with Turkish police on duty around the city and summit banners that said, "The Key to Peace". Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan personally greeted Trump at the airport, underlining the importance Ankara attached to the presence of the US president.
The ceremonial reception was a stark contrast to Trump's long-running criticism of NATO. Trump has questioned the value of the alliance repeatedly, arguing that European members should shoulder more of the burden when it comes to defence spending.
Shortly after his arrival, Trump raised the issue of Greenland again, reiterating his belief that the U.S. should purchase the strategically important Arctic landmass. Greenland is part of the kingdom of Denmark. Denmark is a NATO member. The comments have reopened a dispute that had previously strained relations with Denmark and drawn criticism from several allies.
The summit also showed divisions over Iran. Trump has blasted some NATO allies for refusing to join US military operations against Iran earlier this year, saying Washington often carries an unfair burden of security responsibilities.
He also questioned the extent of British backing for the war, even though Britain allowed US forces to use British bases during the operation. Trump said he had been “testing” allies around the world, including British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, to see if they would stand with the United States in a crisis.
The summit was used by the British government to stress closer defence cooperation with European partners. But opposition politicians and some defence analysts say the UK's proposed defence investment plan does not match the funding levels recommended in last year's Strategic Defence Review.
Political squabbles aside, alliance members focused on beefing up Europe’s military might.
NATO also announced plans to buy more military transport aircraft from Airbus and to replace its ageing Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet with Sweden’s GlobalEye airborne surveillance aircraft. European governments want to enhance collective defence. Officials also spoke about expanding joint missile-development programmes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on allies to speed up the production and development of cheap air-defence systems, citing ongoing Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and shortages of interceptor missiles. "Europe needs its own effective anti-ballistic system and missiles," Zelensky said, urging allies to act more quickly rather than delaying major investments until the next decade.
The discussions are part of a broader strategic shift as European governments prepare to assume greater responsibility for regional security at a time when the United States is signalling a reduction in its long-term military commitment to Europe.
Many alliance officials also are concerned that even if the fighting in Ukraine eventually stops, Russia could quickly rebuild its military power, which could raise security risks along NATO’s eastern flank in the coming years.
