‘I’m very angry at NATO’: Donald Trump expressed disappointment with the Atlantic alliance on Wednesday, the final day of the summit in Ankara, condemning the allies’ haphazard treatment of Iran, Greenland or Spain.
Paraphrasing repeated criticism, the American president addressed his many grievances while sitting next to alliance chief Mark Rutte, who hours earlier had tried to reassure worried allies about America’s commitment within the organization.
“I’m unhappy with NATO because of what they did to Greenland, and I’m unhappy with NATO because they didn’t want to help us fight the main state that supports terrorism, which is Iran,” he said.
Since the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February, Donald Trump has stepped up criticism of his Western allies who have distanced themselves from the conflict.
He also expressed disappointment that he failed to capture Greenland, which he considered a “big problem.” “Greenland is very important to the United States, but not important to Denmark,” he added regarding the autonomous Danish territory.
– “Reason expired” –
The Atlantic alliance suffered major turmoil earlier this year when Donald Trump threatened to seize, possibly by force, Greenland, which is considered important to the security of the United States. He eventually backed down after weeks of extremely aggressive rhetoric.
Donald Trump also sharply criticized Spain, called a “lost cause,” with which the United States, he said, would “cease all commercial exchanges,” once again accusing Madrid of not contributing to NATO defense spending.
Then the 32 leaders of the Alliance countries met at a working meeting.
What will the tone be? Conciliatory, as in 2025 at The Hague, where Donald Trump celebrated a “monumental success” after countries pledged to devote at least 5% of their gross domestic product to their security? Or much darker?
Asked about Trump’s repeated criticism of the alliance, Mark Rutte on Wednesday rejected, as usual, the idea that it endangered the alliance.
“There is full commitment” from the United States within NATO, he insisted, praising the role Donald Trump has played since his return to power.
“Let’s be honest: the fact that President Trump encouraged Canadians and Europeans (to spend more) really helped,” he said. “This is a great victory for the American president,” he added in a phrase that should be pleasant to the ears of a White House tenant.
By backing up the numbers and charts and staying true to the seduction strategy he has never deviated from, the NATO Secretary General is doing everything he can to demonstrate to the American President that member countries’ commitments are matched by action. And may his calls for better burden sharing not be in vain.
There is consensus: the Alliance must become much more European and a little less American. But the project is huge and complex. Washington’s pressure is creating a difficult climate.
In mid-June in Brussels, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a six-month “review” of the presence of US troops in Europe.
– One on one with Zelensky –
As for Ukraine, the American president’s one-on-one conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart will be closely scrutinized days after the “very good conversation” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I think they both want to make a deal,” he said Tuesday, as he has done in the past.
In the absence of tangible guidance in this direction, Europeans for now want to reaffirm their commitment to Kyiv. Together with Canada, they are committed to providing Ukraine with €70 billion in military aid in 2026, the same as in 2027, including the €30 billion for each of those two years already loaned to Kyiv by the European Union.
Understanding that the doors of the Alliance are currently closed to his country, in particular due to American opposition, Vladimir Zelensky, however, upon his arrival in Ankara, recalled Ukraine’s impressive progress in the field of defense.
“Do you really think it would be right to leave a country and a people with this level of defense capability outside of NATO?” he asked.
published July 8 at 13:26, AFP