US President criticises NATO allies over defence spending and Greenland at Ankara summit
U.S. President Donald Trump, attending a NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday (July 8, 2026), criticised allied nations for insufficient defence spending and resistance to his territorial ambitions regarding Greenland. His remarks came amid heightened tensions following a flare-up between U.S. and Iranian forces, with Mr. Trump declaring the Iran ceasefire “over” and accusing allies of failing to support his campaign against Tehran.
“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,” Mr. Trump told reporters.
The President singled out Spain, calling it a “terrible partner in NATO” and stating, “Spain is a wasted cause. We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore.” He urged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “cut it off,” referencing a dispute over Madrid’s defence spending.
Mr. Trump also reiterated his desire to acquire Greenland, a territory of NATO member Denmark, saying, “Greenland is a big problem for us… It is very important for the United States, but it’s not important for Denmark. We need it for protection of the world, not just the United States.” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded tersely, saying, “Greenland is, of course, not for sale.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte had earlier sought to reassure allies of Washington’s “complete commitment” to the alliance. As Mr. Trump landed in Turkiye on Tuesday, he praised President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, highlighting their “chemistry,” in contrast to his criticism of European allies.
The summit occurs at a critical time for the 77-year-old transatlantic alliance, with Mr. Trump demanding members fulfil pledges to increase defence spending as the U.S. reduces its military presence in Europe. On the eve of the summit, NATO reported that core defence spending by European allies rose by 11% in 2026 to $634 billion, up from $571 billion the previous year.
To avoid a new confrontation, NATO allies announced tens of billions in new arms contracts on Tuesday. Mr. Rutte said on Wednesday that allies were “delivering” by taking more responsibility for European defence amid the threat from Russia. “This is a big win for the American president,” he added.
The Ukraine war was also on the agenda. Mr. Trump said he believed both sides wanted to end the fighting: “I think they both want to make a deal.” He spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin before the summit and planned to follow up after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Europe and Canada committed to providing €70 billion ($80 billion) annually in military support to Ukraine for 2026 and 2027.
Mr. Trump was also scheduled to meet Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as part of efforts to rebuild Syria’s international image after years of civil war.
