US President Donald Trump shifted from sharp criticism to a more conciliatory tone during a Nato summit held on July 8-9 in Ankara, Turkey. After an initial day marked by public rebukes of alliance members, Trump ended the meeting emphasizing unity and the United States’ commitment to the military alliance.
The summit gathered 32 heads of state to address pressing security issues, including collective defence obligations and ongoing conflicts. In a closed-door session, Trump reportedly reassured allies that Washington intends to remain within Nato, a message echoed in the summit’s final declaration. The statement underscored an “ironclad commitment” to Article 5 of the Nato treaty, which affirms that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
Earlier on the day, Trump had expressed frustration with Nato allies over their response to his campaign against Iran, accusing member states of failing to support US efforts against what he described as “the number one state sponsor of terror.” He also reiterated his long-standing interest in acquiring Denmark’s territory of Greenland and threatened trade repercussions against Spain. However, these remarks were absent from his closing comments.
An attendee of the closed session highlighted a stark difference between Trump’s public statements and his private tone during discussions. According to this source, the president moderated his rhetoric on Iran, using less inflammatory language than he had earlier in the day. He refrained from further mention of Greenland or trade threats.
Leaders from member states acknowledged the shift in tone. Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal described Trump’s message as “constructive,” noting the president’s insistence that Europe increase its defence spending. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys advised against interpreting Trump’s outbursts as signs of weakening alliance cohesion or transatlantic ties.
The summit also addressed ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. Trump pledged to grant Ukraine’s government a license to manufacture US-made Patriot air-defence missiles, a key asset in countering Russian ballistic attacks. The decision comes as Kyiv faces challenges in maintaining sufficient interceptor supplies amid intensified Russian bombardments. Trump remarked that deeper Ukrainian strikes into Russian territory, while escalating the conflict, might facilitate negotiations between Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
In a separate commitment, European countries and Canada pledged to continue military support for Ukraine, with funding totalling €70 billion ($80 billion) annually through 2026 and 2027.
Ahead of departing Ankara, Trump was scheduled to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as part of efforts to restore Syria’s international standing following years of civil war.
The Nato summit unfolded amid ongoing strains within the alliance, particularly over defence spending commitments. Facing US pressure to increase military budgets, member nations announced new arms contracts worth tens of billions of euros, signaling their dedication to strengthening collective defence.
Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte characterized the alliance’s trajectory as positive despite disagreements, comparing the dynamics to a family that grows stronger through honest, sometimes contentious, dialogue.