NATO Leaders Gather In Ankara As Trump Reopens Rifts Over Iran And Greenland

NATO’s European leaders are pushing to secure a fresh U.S. commitment to the alliance at a summit in Ankara, even as President Trump revived tensions over the Iran war and Greenland just before talks began.

Trump Voices Frustration Over Iran War Support

Arriving in Turkey on Tuesday, Trump said he might have skipped the summit entirely if not for his friendship with host President Tayyip Erdogan. He also left open the possibility of further U.S. troop withdrawals from Europe. Trump criticized allies for not doing enough during the recent U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, questioning why the U.S. continues heavy defense spending on Europe. European officials pushed back, saying they honored their commitments despite having no say in the conflict.

Meloni And Greenland Disputes Resurface

Trump also renewed criticism of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, saying their relationship cooled after she declined to assist with Iran. He repeated calls for U.S. control over Greenland, prompting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to firmly state that Greenland remains part of Danish sovereignty and is not for sale.

Alliance Still Aims For Unity

Despite the friction, NATO ambassadors approved a summit declaration affirming strong commitment to collective defense, pending leader approval Wednesday. European nations also unveiled over $50 billion in new arms deals to show increased defense spending.