Nato leaders are exercising caution at the alliance's summit in Ankara, Turkey, reportedly avoiding any mention of the World Cup to prevent further antagonizing U.S. President Donald Trump. The President is said to be in a "bad mood" following the United States men's national team's defeat to Belgium in the tournament.
Sources indicate that European leaders have been advised to "walk on eggshells" to maintain a stable environment during the summit. This delicate approach comes after Trump's personal intervention with FIFA president Gianni Infantino to overturn a red card against U.S. player Folarin Balogun, which would have prevented him from participating in a crucial match. Despite this, the U.S. team lost 4-1 to Belgium, with Balogun not scoring.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever confirmed that football was not a topic of discussion during his interactions with Trump, stating that while important, it remains "non-important" compared to the significant matters at hand. He acknowledged Trump's "reputation of sometimes reacting a bit irritably" and suggested the World Cup defeat would be a blow.
The summit itself may see a postponement of its next meeting, potentially until 2029, to avoid future confrontations with Trump, who has frequently criticized the defensive alliance. Annual summits have been held in recent years due to the war in Ukraine, but the planned 2028 gathering in Albania is also reportedly set to be canceled, with diplomatic sources suggesting no summit will occur until after the U.S. presidential election.
Despite the diplomatic efforts to avoid conflict, President Trump has reportedly continued to voice criticisms of Nato and has reiterated his interest in acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory of Nato ally Denmark. The Belgian team posted a defiant message after their victory, stating, "Overturn this," and jubilant players shared dressing room footage mimicking Trump's signature dance moves.