Politico: NATO allies temper expectations for Ankara summit after Trump’s fiery start

NATO allies have lowered expectations for the alliance’s summit in Ankara after US President Donald Trump arrived with renewed criticism of the bloc, raising fresh questions over Washington’s commitment to European security, Politico writes.

Trump revived several long-standing grievances shortly after arriving in Turkey, saying developments in Ukraine did not directly affect the US and repeating his calls for Greenland to come under American control.

The comments came as NATO members announced billions of dollars in new arms deals and pledged to increase defence spending, moves intended to demonstrate unity within the 32-member alliance.

However, one NATO diplomat said the focus had quickly shifted away from the spending commitments.

“We’re all doing exactly what the Americans demanded and what we have to do for our own security,” a NATO diplomat said. “But a morning of big new defense spending is now overshadowed by complaints over Greenland.”

Allies had expected Trump to adopt a more constructive tone during the two-day summit, following signals from his advisers before the meeting that Washington wanted a positive outcome.

Senator Chris Coons criticised the president’s approach, saying: “He’s already taken us off a unifying positive objective.”

NATO members are particularly focused on Trump’s planned meetings on Wednesday, when he is expected to discuss the future of US troop deployments in Europe, meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and hold a news conference before returning to Washington.

A former NATO official said Trump’s remarks were not unexpected among allies.

“It’s all priced in by this point. Everyone expects it,” the official said.

The issue of Greenland also drew a response from Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who said Copenhagen’s position had not changed despite Trump’s repeated comments about the strategically important Arctic territory.

“I hope it is just as well known that the position of the Kingdom of Denmark is that this is not going to happen,” she said, adding that Denmark wanted to strengthen cooperation with the US in the Arctic.

Despite the tensions, some officials pointed to signs of progress. NATO leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the alliance’s Article 5 mutual defence clause and agreed that Russia remained a long-term threat to member states. The draft summit declaration also said Iran could never possess a nuclear weapon.

Giedrimas Jeglinskas, a former NATO official and Lithuanian parliamentarian, said Trump’s attendance itself was an important signal.

“The bigger message of reassurance is a simple fact that President Trump is in Ankara for the leaders’ summit,” Jeglinskas said. “There is a positive momentum in Ukraine, which received Trump’s nod. The summit declaration is short and sweet and, importantly, touches on all the right themes.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev