NATO leaders close Ankara summit after Trump's eruptions, publicly stress unity

President Donald Trump closed the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8 by saying there was “a lot of unity” after a day in which he demanded the United States cut trade with Spain and renewed his push for Greenland. NATO leaders nevertheless issued a summit declaration reaffirming their “ironclad commitment” to collective defence under Article 5. (al-monitor.com) The declaration also set out new spending and procurement pledges and a fresh package of military support for Ukraine. The two-day summit in Türkiye ended with public statements of cohesion, even as Trump’s comments exposed disputes over Iran, trade and the alliance’s internal politics. ### Why did the summit begin in such a confrontational mood? (nato.int) Ankara became the setting for a public clash when Trump called Spain a “terrible partner” in NATO and said he wanted to “cut off all trade” with the country. Reuters reported that he made the remarks while accusing allies of not backing the war on Iran and while reviving claims on Greenland. Trump also said the ceasefire with Iran was over, according to the Reuters account carried by Al-Monitor. Spain’s position carried wider implications because Madrid is part of the European Union’s common trade regime. The New York Times reported that any U.S. move against Spain would face legal and political obstacles and could trigger a broader trade clash with the EU. (al-monitor.com) ### What changed by the time leaders emerged from the closed-door meeting? Trump shifted tone after the leaders’ session and said: “There was a lot of love in that room, a lot of unity.” Reuters reported that a source familiar with the talks said Trump did not repeat his public criticisms in the closed meeting and instead said the United States wanted to remain in NATO. French President Emmanuel Macron said he did not hear complaints from Trump in the room, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance was “more together than ever,” according to the same report. (al-monitor.com) CNN reported that European leaders entered the summit fearing a deeper rupture but left believing they had, for now, found a way to manage Trump by stressing burden-sharing and avoiding direct confrontation. (nytimes.com) That account matched the summit’s public choreography, with leaders emphasizing unity even as the underlying disputes remained visible. ### What did NATO actually agree to in Ankara? NATO’s Ankara summit declaration reaffirmed Article 5 and said “an attack on one is an attack on all.” The document said European allies and Canada increased investments in core defence requirements by more than $139 billion in 2025 and announced more than $50 billion in new procurements in Ankara. (al-monitor.com) It also said allies would work to eliminate defence trade barriers inside the alliance and expand manufacturing capacity with industry. The declaration also set out a new Ukraine pledge. NATO leaders said allies would provide €70 billion in military equipment, assistance and training for Ukraine in 2026 and affirmed sovereign commitments to sustain at least equivalent levels in 2027. (abc17news.com) ### What did Trump signal on Ukraine? Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the United States would give a license for Ukraine to make Patriot interceptor missiles, Politico reported. The report said it was not immediately clear whether Trump meant production inside Ukraine or elsewhere in Europe, and that he had not yet cleared the idea with Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. (presidentti.fi) Reuters separately reported that Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy was markedly warmer than their White House encounter last year. In that same account, Trump’s Patriot comments were described as a potential boost for Ukraine as Russia intensifies air attacks on Ukrainian cities. (presidentti.fi) ### Where did Greenland fit into a NATO meeting? Greenland returned to the summit because Trump renewed claims that the United States should take over the Danish territory, according to Reuters and other reports. The remarks added another dispute with a NATO ally, Denmark, at a meeting meant to showcase allied cohesion. (politico.com) AP reported that Rutte said allies had “warmly welcomed President Trump’s leadership” even after Trump again raised Greenland. That juxtaposition captured the public line leaders chose as the summit closed. (al-monitor.com) ### What happens after the summit? NATO’s official summit programme says the Ankara meeting ran from July 7 to July 8, and the alliance has published the declaration and related summit materials as the basis for follow-up. The next concrete benchmark in the declaration is the 2027 commitment, with allies saying they intend to sustain Ukraine support at least at the 2026 level. (nato.int) (cenlanow.com) (al-monitor.com)