US President Donald Trump has openly criticised several NATO allies during the alliance's summit in Ankara, creating fresh divisions at a meeting intended to demonstrate unity on European security and defence.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump expressed frustration over what he described as a lack of support from some NATO members during the recent confrontation with Iran. His comments came as tensions in the Middle East remained high following renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran, casting uncertainty over the fragile ceasefire announced earlier.
Trump claimed the ceasefire had effectively collapsed and criticised allies for failing to support Washington's actions against Tehran. He described Iran as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism and suggested that some NATO members had not done enough to back the United States during the crisis.
The US president also renewed his long-standing interest in Greenland, arguing that the Arctic territory holds significant strategic value for global security. He maintained that the island is important for the protection of the wider international community, not only the United States, and suggested that Denmark gains little from retaining control of it.
His remarks prompted another firm response from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who reiterated that Greenland is not for sale.
Trump reserved some of his strongest criticism for Spain, describing it as an unreliable NATO partner. He also questioned future trade relations with Madrid and called for economic measures against the country, adding another point of tension to an already difficult debate over defence spending within the alliance.
Earlier in the day, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sought to reassure member states of Washington's continued commitment to the alliance. He praised recent increases in European defence investment and said allies were taking greater responsibility for protecting the continent.
According to NATO figures released before the summit, core European defence spending is expected to reach approximately 634 billion US dollars in 2026, compared with 571 billion dollars the previous year. The increase reflects growing efforts by European governments to strengthen military capabilities as security concerns continue to rise.
In an effort to demonstrate progress, several member states announced new defence procurement agreements worth tens of billions of dollars ahead of the leaders' meeting. Rutte described these commitments as evidence that allies were delivering on promises to increase defence spending and modernise their armed forces.
The war in Ukraine also remained a major focus of the summit. Trump said he believed both Russia and Ukraine wanted to reach a negotiated settlement and confirmed he would meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later in the day.
Before arriving in Turkey, Trump held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and indicated that further contact could follow after his meeting with Zelensky. Meanwhile, European countries and Canada are preparing to continue providing military assistance to Ukraine, with support expected to total around 70 billion euros annually in both 2026 and 2027.
Trump is also scheduled to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as Syria seeks to improve its diplomatic standing after years of conflict. The talks follow a recent visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Damascus, which was overshadowed by bomb attacks that injured several people in the Syrian capital.
Relations between Washington and Ankara also appeared to improve during the summit. Trump praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and said he would consider allowing Turkey to rejoin discussions over the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jet programme while reviewing sanctions imposed on Ankara.
Turkey was removed from the F-35 programme in 2019 after purchasing a Russian air defence system. Since then, Turkish officials have repeatedly sought to restore defence cooperation with the United States and secure the removal of sanctions that have affected bilateral military projects.
The Ankara summit highlights the growing challenges facing NATO as member states attempt to balance increased defence commitments, continued support for Ukraine and rising instability in the Middle East, while managing persistent disagreements with Washington over security priorities and strategic policy.
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