The final moments of the NATO summit in Ankara saw a notable pivot from US President Donald Trump, who concluded the gathering with an unexpected embrace of alliance unity, a stark contrast to his earlier public criticisms. After an initial period of antagonism, marked by sharp rebukes directed at NATO members for their contributions and perceived lack of support for US foreign policy objectives, the tone shifted dramatically behind closed doors. This change underscored a recurring pattern in the US leader’s interactions on the international stage.
Sources inside the closed-door discussions reported that Trump reassured his counterparts of the US commitment to the military alliance, specifically stating, “We want to remain with you.” This sentiment found its way into the summit’s final declaration, where NATO leaders collectively reaffirmed their “ironclad commitment” to Article 5, the alliance’s mutual assistance clause. European leaders, for their part, presented evidence of surging defense spending, a clear effort to address long-standing US demands for increased burden-sharing and greater responsibility for their own security. German Chancellor Frederich Merz articulated this shift, noting his return to Germany with a sense that NATO was not only holding together but becoming “stronger, and that it is becoming more European.”
The day had not begun with such conciliatory language. Earlier, Trump had publicly expressed significant displeasure with NATO allies, particularly regarding their perceived failure to support his administration’s stance on Iran. He threatened to cut trade with Spain and reiterated his desire for Denmark’s territory of Greenland, stating, “I’m very upset with NATO…because of what they did with Greenland, and…because of the fact that they didn’t want to help us with the number one state sponsor of terror, that’s Iran.” However, these specific grievances were reportedly absent from his remarks once he engaged directly with the leaders in the private session. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez later confirmed that ties with Washington remained “very positive.”
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal described Trump’s moderated tone during the session, characterizing it as a “kind of constructive message…that Europe must step up, invest more in defence.” This shift was seen by some as a tactical adjustment rather than a fundamental change in his core message. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys suggested that such public outbursts should not be over-dramatized or interpreted as signs of the alliance’s weakening, emphasizing the enduring transatlantic bond.
Beyond alliance dynamics, the summit also addressed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump pledged to grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air-defense missiles, a critical development for Kyiv, whose forces have faced challenges in intercepting Russian ballistic missiles due to dwindling supplies. He conveyed this directly to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during their discussions on the sidelines of the summit, stating, “We’re going to give a licence to you to make Patriots. That’s pretty cool, right.” This support comes as Kyiv appears to stabilize its front lines and conduct strikes deeper into Russian territory, actions Trump suggested could ultimately help bring the conflict to an end, even if they represent an escalation. The final NATO declaration also included a commitment from Europe and Canada to provide €70 billion annually in military support to Ukraine for both 2026 and 2027.
Before departing Ankara, Trump also held talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who is actively working to rehabilitate Syria’s international image following years of civil war. The broader context of the summit saw NATO allies unveil tens of billions in new arms contracts on Tuesday, demonstrating concrete steps towards reducing the burden on the US for European defense. NATO chief Mark Rutte concluded the summit by emphasizing the alliance’s strengthened position, likening its occasional disagreements to the dynamics within a strong family.
