Trump Praises 31 Nato Allies in Ankara After Threatening Trade Rupture With Spain
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 12
Trump Praises 31 Nato Allies in Ankara After Threatening Trade Rupture With Spain
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 12
Summary
Hours after attacking Nato and urging a US trade break with Spain, Donald Trump emerged from the Ankara summit declaring there was "a lot of love in that room" and calling the meeting unusually positive.
Analysts tied the reversal to Trump's anger over a failed Iran ceasefire giving way to personal chemistry with host Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and steady flattery from Nato chief Mark Rutte over higher allied defense spending.
Trump also praised Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "ingenious," a notable shift that some observers linked to frustration with Vladimir Putin and growing sensitivity to congressional opinion ahead of midterm elections.
Despite the warmer finale, experts said the episode will deepen European doubts about US reliability even as Nato remains intact with 80,000 US troops in Europe and allies moving toward a 5% of GDP defense goal.
Is Trump's chaotic diplomacy a flaw, or a deliberate strategy to force a new world order?
Will a militarily independent Europe create continental stability or ignite new rivalries?
NATO at a Crossroads: U.S.-Spain Trade Threats, Defense Spending Disputes, and the 2026 Ankara Summit Fallout
Overview
The Ankara NATO Summit on July 8, 2026, brought together leaders from all 32 member states, where they publicly reaffirmed their commitment to mutual defense. Despite Secretary General Mark Rutte calling the meeting 'tremendously successful,' the summit was marked by persistent disagreements over defense spending, especially between the U.S. and European allies. U.S. President Donald Trump and Ambassador Matthew Whitaker criticized uneven contributions, highlighting ongoing tensions. These disputes reflect deeper, long-standing issues within NATO about burden-sharing and alliance priorities, raising questions about future cohesion and the ability of members to work together amid growing security challenges.