ANKARA, Turkey—The heads of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization member nations concluded a two-day summit in the Turkish capital of Ankara on July 8, as President Donald Trump works to reorient the transatlantic alliance.
This year’s summit came amid an unresolved armed conflict between the United States and Iran, which began on Feb. 28 and has disrupted global trade.
The Trump administration has expressed frustration with NATO’s role in the Middle East conflict and with some members restricting U.S. access to European military bases and airspace needed for operations.
Here are the key developments from the two-day summit.
Iran Ceasefire Shaken by New Strikes
The Middle East saw a fresh exchange of fire with Iran as the heads of the NATO states gathered in Ankara.Projectiles struck three commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz on July 7. While Iran did not directly claim responsibility for the attacks, state media said the targeted vessels had ignored warnings from Iranian authorities.
In response to the new attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. forces launched strikes on dozens of targets within Iran on July 7. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in turn, launched drones and missiles at U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait.
At a press conference to conclude his Ankara visit, Trump was asked whether a collapse of the ceasefire would plunge the region back into a state of war. He said the potential ramifications will be minor.
“I think anything that happens is going to be over very quickly, and we'll only make it safer,” Trump said.
Renewed Push for US Takeover of Greenland
In the lead-up to the NATO summit, Trump reiterated his interest in expanding U.S. influence over Greenland.At a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on July 8, Trump said the island, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark, remains a “big problem” for the United States.
During the meeting, Rutte referenced a deal reached in Davos, Switzerland, early this year. Rutte said the deal allows a gradual increase in the U.S. military presence in Greenland and the deployment of the proposed Golden Dome missile defense system.
“I will make sure that that deal is, step by step, being implemented,” Rutte said.
Plans to Share Patriot Production With Ukraine
Ukraine stands to gain a production license for Patriot air defense systems following discussions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Ankara summit.Since the start of the Russia–Ukraine war in 2022, Ukrainian forces have relied heavily on Patriot systems, transferred from the United States and other international supporters, to blunt persistent Russian aerial attacks.
Other recent conflicts, such as the fighting with Iran, have also taxed the global supply of Patriot systems.
Granting Ukraine a production license could address Kyiv’s demands for air defense systems and enable the United States to meet demands for Patriot systems elsewhere around the world.
Path Opening for Turkey to Get F-35s
At a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on July 7, Trump indicated he would clear the way for potential sales of F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters to Turkey.Turkey was an early partner on the F-35 program but was barred from obtaining the advanced aircraft after purchasing Russian S-400 air defense systems in 2019. These S-400 purchases ran afoul of the 2017 Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.
“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off,” Trump announced.
NATO Allies Mark Progress on Military Spending
Trump praised the alliance’s progress toward the military spending commitments members agreed to last year, noting that most NATO allies have agreed to the new targets.“Some have truly answered the call, and others are making big changes, and will be answering the call,” Trump said on July 8.
Trump also praised the unity among the alliance’s members during the two-day summit.
“There was a love in that room; it was great. So, this was a tremendously successful summit.”
During the summit, a coalition of 12 European countries, led by the UK, announced they would spend $50 billion over the next 10 years on a new long-range missile system with precision-strike capability, to expand NATO’s deterrence in Europe.
Trump Threatens to End Trade With Spain
Trump made headlines when he criticized Spain’s commitment to NATO, saying that the United States no longer wants to conduct trade with Madrid.“Spain is a wasted cause. We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore,” the president said during his bilateral meeting with Rutte.
Spain declined to join other NATO allies last year in pledging to increase defense spending.
Meanwhile, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, in a press conference, said the country had no intention of changing its “excellent social, cultural, and economic relationship” with the United States.
Ryan Morgan; Tom Ozimek; Tom Gantert; Stacy Robinson
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