Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 6
Bolton Urges NATO Leaders to Thank Trump at July 8 Ankara Summit
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 6

Bolton Urges NATO Leaders to Thank Trump at July 8 Ankara Summit

3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 6

Summary

  • John Bolton urged NATO leaders to make their top priority at Tuesday’s Ankara summit “do no harm” by smiling and thanking Donald Trump.
  • The former Trump national security adviser argued NATO’s biggest danger now comes from within the alliance, not only from external threats.
  • Bolton said those outside pressures remain acute in Ukraine, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific, raising the stakes for any summit disruption.
  • The advice underscores fears that managing Trump has become central to preserving alliance cohesion at a meeting meant to address wider security challenges.

Insights

Is President Trump's transactional approach forcing NATO to fracture, or is it forging a more resilient, self-sufficient European defense pillar?
As the U.S. shifts security burdens, can new European 'embedded alliances' truly replace America's central role in defending the continent?
Could a U.S. F-35 sale to Turkey, despite legal bans, fundamentally alter the strategic balance of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East?