Alliance leaders, who had braced for the worst, are set to celebrate US President Donald Trump’s renewed backing for Article 5 as a significant triumph, despite his often erratic and irascible conduct during the final hours of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. Trump, who had lambasted Western leaders over defence spending and their perceived lack of assistance in attacking Iran, later claimed to feel a “tremendous love” from them.
The US president’s mixed messaging characterized the conclusion of the two-day gathering. It began with him publicly denouncing Iran’s leadership as “scum” and reiterating his demand for control of Greenland. However, he adopted a noticeably softer tone during a private meeting with 32 NATO leaders late Wednesday morning, where he refrained from mentioning Greenland or earlier criticisms, instead assuring allies, “we want to remain with you.”
Earlier on Wednesday morning, Trump appeared alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, launching into a lengthy monologue that aired a string of grievances against NATO and several individual members, alongside his attacks on Iran’s leadership. He specifically targeted the UK, complaining that it initially prevented the US from using RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire for bombing missions in Iran, before Prime Minister Keir Starmer reversed course to allow limited attacks on Iranian missile sites. Trump reiterated complaints he had made against Starmer and Britain in the spring, stating, “The United Kingdom wouldn’t let us use the island for two weeks, so we had to fly back.”
His complaints extended to defence spending, where he renewed familiar criticisms despite last year’s agreement by all members, except Spain, to raise national defence budgets to 3.5% of gross domestic product by 2035. “I’m very upset with Nato, that we pay far, far too much,” Trump declared. “Billions and billions of dollars, too much, because it’s unfair, because we’re protecting them, so we protect them, but they’re not there for us.” He reserved fresh ire for Spain’s decision to reject the 3.5% target, telling Rutte, “Spain doesn’t agree to anything, and you shouldn’t carry them. I don’t want to do any trade with them, all right?” a remark directed at US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who replied, “Yes, sir.” Hours later, aboard Air Force One, the president appeared to soften his tone, telling reporters that Spain “came back all the way today. Spain was very generous today.”
Rutte, for his part, employed a strategy of flattery and occasional interruptions, which seemed to calm Trump. The Secretary General praised Trump for his role in persuading European NATO members to increase defence spending, bringing it closer to the US proportion of economic output. The summit concluded with Trump hosting a rambling press conference that largely veered away from NATO topics, instead praising Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, touting the US economy, and claiming to be “No 1 on TikTok.” Nevertheless, Trump’s shift from angry critic to NATO supporter, encapsulated by his statement, “If there’s one word that comes out of today it’s unification,” will be seen as a victory for an alliance whose stability had been questioned.
The final summit declaration, signed by Trump and 31 other alliance leaders, reaffirmed their “ironclad commitment” to Article 5, which stipulates that an attack on one NATO member is considered an attack on all. However, a date for the next leaders’ summit, slated for Albania, was not announced, amid ongoing anti-Trump and anti-government protests in the country, with hints that it might not occur until 2028. European leaders were reportedly concerned about Trump’s mood after a Tuesday night dinner at the Turkish president’s compound, and had agreed not to mention the US team’s 4-1 loss to Belgium earlier in the week. Concerns persist in parts of Europe that Trump’s grandstanding at such events risks emboldening Russian President Vladimir Putin, thereby undermining deterrence and alliance unity.
Trump’s unpredictable behavior ultimately overshadowed what NATO had hoped would be a “delivery summit,” following last year’s 3.5% spending pledge. Despite this, the summit saw the announcement of over $50 billion in international arms contracts, including a commitment from 12 countries to develop deep strike missiles with ranges spanning from 300km to over 2,000km (185 to 1,250 miles).
