32 NATO allies treated Donald Trump with unusual courtesy at the just-ended summit even after he attacked burden-sharing, criticized European energy and immigration policies, insulted Spain and said the Kyiv-Moscow war “doesn’t affect us.”
The report argues that deference flowed less from U.S. power than from allies’ fear of what Trump might do if crossed, given his readiness to ignore norms, treaties and legal constraints.
Trump cast the gathering as a success, saying there was “a lot of love” and “a lot of unity,” while the analysis says that apparent harmony masked anxiety over his unpredictability.
That dynamic, the report says, gives Trump a first-mover advantage: he gains by breaking shared rules, while institutions from NATO to the U.S. Justice Department bear the larger cost of rebuilding trust and safeguards.
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NATO at a Crossroads: Trump’s Ankara Demands, 5% GDP Defense Push, and the Dawn of “NATO 3.0”
Overview
The 2026 NATO summit in Ankara took place amid global tensions, including a US-Israel war on Iran and rising fears about Russia. President Trump arrived in Ankara, met with Turkish President Erdogan, and pushed for a 'NATO 3.0' reboot focused on a stronger Europe within NATO. Throughout the summit, Trump’s confrontational approach was clear as he pressured allies to boost defense spending and military readiness. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte responded by highlighting major military projects worth billions, aiming to address Trump’s demands. The summit’s outcomes reflected both unity and underlying disagreements among member states.