President Donald Trump criticized NATO leaders ahead of the alliance's annual summit, following a notably elaborate reception from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. Trump stated he was "very disappointed with NATO" and suggested he might not have attended the summit if it were not held in Turkey.
Upon arriving in Ankara, Trump received a welcome that included Turkish cavalry riders and re-enactors displaying historical military gear. Erdogan greeted Trump on the tarmac before his motorcade was given a horseback escort through the capital. Trump, in turn, offered a rare foreign-language greeting to an honor guard.
During a press conference, Trump praised Erdogan as a "very strong leader" and highlighted Turkey's assistance in the Iran conflict. He contrasted this with the responses of several European allies, including the UK, Italy, Germany, and France, whom he accused of refusing base access for operations related to Iran and balking at helping reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "We weren't treated well," Trump stated, adding that he was testing the allies' commitment to the alliance.
"Italy turned us down, and Germany turned us down, and France turned us down," Trump said. "But why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they’re not there for us? We’ve always been there for them."
Despite his criticisms, U.S. officials indicated that Trump's agenda for the NATO summit would prioritize increasing European defense spending, including making a previously unveiled 5% of GDP spending pledge mandatory. Earlier in his remarks, Trump also reiterated his proposal for the U.S. to acquire Greenland from Denmark, suggesting that such a move could lead to the withdrawal of U.S. soldiers from Europe. He cited concerns about immigration and energy policies in Europe as potential reasons for a reduced U.S. military presence on the continent.