Trump’s tone swings at NATO summit in Ankara draw mixed responses
U. S. President Donald Trump shifted his tone from criticism to praise of NATO unity during a two-day summit in Ankara, Turkey. Dutch NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte had been working to keep Trump engaged as the alliance prepared for the meeting, emphasizing defence spending, industrial cooperation and continued support for Ukraine, DW reported. European leaders gathered in the city to discuss how higher defence budgets would translate into capability and to address the prospect of a reduced U. S. role, CNBC noted. Trump arrived in Turkey amid the heightened Ukraine conflict, preparing for a bilateral meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to CNBC.
At the summit he reiterated demands for allies to raise defence spending to 5 % of GDP while the United States considered reducing its troop presence in Europe, CBS reported. During the meeting, Trump ordered air strikes against Iran and cancelled a licence for Iranian oil sales, a move that sparked tension with NATO partners, AP said. He also met Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the final day, discussing Ukraine’s urgent need for Patriot missiles, Fox News reported. The president rebuked European partners for what he described as insufficient defence spending and a lack of support in the Iran conflict, The New York Times wrote. NATO heads subsequently reaffirmed the Article 5 collective-defence pledge and announced a €70 billion support package for Ukraine, AP noted. The rapid swing in Trump’s tone from criticism to endorsement generated mixed reactions among alliance leaders and raised questions about future U. S. policy toward Iran and Ukraine, CNBC reported.
