Trump blasts European allies as disloyal at tense NATO summit opening in Ankara

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President Trump criticized Western European allies as unreliable partners at the opening of a two-day NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, setting a tense tone for discussions on defense spending and the Russia-Ukraine war, according to remarks made alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Trump said he was uncertain whether allies would support the United States in a crisis, noting that Italy, Germany and France declined to assist during his campaign against Iran. He questioned why the U.S. continues spending heavily on mutual defense when allies haven’t reciprocated support, and suggested American troops could be pulled out of Europe entirely.

Trump also revived his push for U.S. control of Greenland, currently governed by Denmark, and warned that Europe’s immigration and energy policies could threaten its future if left unaddressed. He contrasted the perceived disloyalty of traditional allies with Turkey, praising Erdogan’s government as more helpful to Washington despite Ankara’s strained relationship with Israel. Trump suggested Erdogan may have chosen not to intervene in the U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, out of respect for him personally.

The president signaled openness to readmitting Turkey into the F-35 fighter jet program, from which it was removed in 2019 after acquiring Russia’s S-400 air defense system. Trump said he has “no concerns” about Turkey and plans to lift related sanctions, though he acknowledged legal and congressional hurdles remain, including assurances that F-35 technology wouldn’t reach Russia. Rep. Dina Titus, a Nevada Democrat, led more than a dozen House Democrats in a letter opposing Turkey’s reinstatement, arguing that Turkey has not resolved the security concerns that triggered its removal.

Elsewhere at the summit, NATO announced it will adopt the Swedish-made GlobalEye surveillance aircraft to replace aging early warning radar planes, a move Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called a boost to collective defense on social media. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the alliance would commit to tens of billions of dollars in new defense contracts during the summit.

Trump credited himself with strengthening NATO by pressing member nations to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP and said he now wants updates on each country’s progress. He attended a ceremonial arrival and a leaders’ dinner hosted by Erdogan on Tuesday, with meetings planned Wednesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Trump expressed optimism that Russia and Ukraine are nearing a settlement to end their more than four-year war.

Read more: Trump lays into NATO allies at summit kickoff, says Europe is ’a very different place’

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