Donald Trump’s presence has dominated a Nato summit in Ankara as alliance members seek to advance plans for rearming Europe and strengthening air defences in response to Russia’s continued war in Ukraine.
The US president was given a highly visible ceremonial welcome by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who met him personally at the airport. Turkish police were deployed across the capital, large summit banners lined the streets, and military aircraft flew overhead during the formal arrival events.
Although the gathering is formally focused on Nato defence priorities, Mr Trump’s attendance has drawn particular attention because of his long-running criticism of the alliance and his repeated demands that European members take on a greater share of security costs. He has said he travelled to Ankara because the summit was hosted by Mr Erdogan, whom he has described as a friend.
The tone of unity sought by Nato leaders was tested soon after Mr Trump arrived. He again referred to the idea that the United States should take control of Greenland, the autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, which is itself a Nato member. The remarks revived a dispute that has previously strained relations with Copenhagen.
Denmark’s prime minister has warned in the past that any attempt by the United States to seize Greenland by force would be incompatible with the continued functioning of the alliance. Mr Trump acknowledged that his earlier comments on the issue had damaged relations within Nato, though he did not withdraw the position.
The US president also used the summit to renew criticism of allies over their response to his administration’s military action against Iran earlier this year. He suggested that some Nato partners had not offered support when Washington wanted it, despite the conflict having been launched without allied consultation.
Mr Trump singled out the United Kingdom, even though Sir Keir Starmer’s government allowed US forces to use British airbases for strikes on Iranian missile sites. Referring to the Prime Minister, Mr Trump said Sir Keir had offered help only after the conflict was over, adding that he had been “testing” whether allies would stand with the United States.
The British delegation has been seeking to highlight defence co-operation with European partners during the summit. However, Sir Keir arrived in Ankara facing criticism at home over a Defence Investment Plan that opponents say falls short of the level of spending implied by last year’s Strategic Defence Review.
Beyond the diplomatic tensions, Nato representatives have been working through a substantial agenda on defence procurement and industrial co-operation. The discussions reflect a broader effort to increase European capacity at a time when the United States is signalling a reduced willingness to carry the alliance’s security burden.
Several major projects have been highlighted during the summit. They include contracts for a new fleet of transport aircraft to be built by Airbus, as well as plans to replace Nato’s ageing Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft with Sweden’s GlobalEye surveillance planes.
Missile production and air defence have also been central themes. European governments are examining ways to co-operate more closely on missiles and interception systems, amid concern that existing stockpiles and production lines are not sufficient for a prolonged period of confrontation with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the summit and urged Nato members to move faster on air defence. His appeal followed a series of heavy Russian missile attacks on Kyiv, where ballistic missiles have hit residential buildings and killed civilians. Ukrainian air defence units have reported severe shortages of interceptors.
“Europe needs its own effective anti-ballistic system and missiles,” Mr Zelensky told allies. He said work was already under way but urged partners to treat it as an urgent priority, warning that Europe could not wait until 2030 or later for affordable, mass-produced systems.
The Ukrainian president’s message reflected one of the summit’s main strategic concerns: how Europe can defend itself against Russia’s expanding missile and drone capabilities if US support becomes less predictable. While Nato leaders continue to say they want the war in Ukraine to end, there is concern among some allies that Russia could rebuild its forces quickly after any ceasefire or settlement.
Those concerns have added pressure on European governments to increase defence spending, expand manufacturing capacity and make procurement decisions more quickly. The challenge is not only military but industrial, as governments seek to ensure that weapons, aircraft, ammunition and air defence systems can be produced at the scale required.
The Ankara summit has therefore exposed two realities facing Nato at the same time. Mr Trump’s remarks have underlined continuing political strains inside the alliance, while the defence discussions have shown that European members are moving towards a more urgent phase of rearmament. How quickly those plans translate into usable military capability will shape Nato’s ability to deter threats and sustain support for Ukraine in the years ahead.
