NATO Allies Reaffirm Mutual Defence; Trump's Tone Moderates at Ankara Summit
NATO leaders concluded a summit in Ankara on Wednesday with a final declaration reaffirming their 'ironclad commitment' to collective defence under Article 5, which states that an attack on one ally is an attack on all. The declaration sought to ease concerns about Washington's commitment to the alliance.
US President Donald Trump, who had earlier criticised allies for not supporting his Iran campaign and reiterated a desire to acquire Greenland, struck a more conciliatory tone behind closed doors, according to a source present in the session. Trump assured leaders that the US wanted to remain in NATO, saying, 'We want to remain with you.'
Earlier, Trump had threatened to cut trade with Spain and expressed frustration over allies' lack of support on Iran, calling the country 'the number one state sponsor of terror.' However, during the closed meeting, his remarks on Iran were 'not as harsh,' the source said, and he made no further mention of Spain or Greenland.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal described Trump's message as 'constructive,' urging Europe to increase defence spending. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys cautioned against interpreting Trump's public statements as a sign of alliance fragmentation, saying, 'I wouldn't see in it an indicator that we are somehow weakening NATO.'
On Ukraine, Trump met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the summit sidelines, pledging to grant Kyiv a licence to produce Patriot air-defence missiles. Trump said, 'We're going to give a licence to you to make Patriots. That's pretty cool, right.' He also suggested that Ukraine's strikes into Russia could help end the war, commenting, 'It's an escalation, but it's also an escalation that can help lead to an end.'
The final declaration also included a pledge by Europe and Canada to provide 70 billion euros ($80 billion) annually in military support for Ukraine in 2026 and 2027.
Before leaving Ankara, Trump was scheduled to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, as part of efforts to rebuild Syria's international standing after years of civil war.
