ANKARA, July 09, Brussels Morning Newspaper – The latest NATO summit in Ankara saw leaders of America’s allies grappling with the unpredictable nature of Donald Trump. As the U.S. president joined them, attendees faced a dichotomy: a leader who frequently praises the dedication of the alliance while simultaneously threatening to implode its foundations. This latest gathering proved that both sides of his personality remain in play.
Upon his arrival on Tuesday, Trump directed criticism at the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy. He accused these nations of failing to support the U.S. war efforts in Iran. By Wednesday morning, his rhetoric intensified as he announced plans to cut off all trade with Spain, citing its obstruction of the war effort and insufficient defense spending.
However, by the end of the day, the tone shifted entirely. Trump began praising those same leaders for their commitment to increasing military spending. He even described a closed-door meeting with NATO leaders as being filled with love.
“It was sort of pretty wild,”
he mused before an auditorium packed with journalists.
This whiplash-inducing behavior has become a standard routine for the former TV personality. Leaders who endured a similar experience at last year’s summit have learned that maintaining the transatlantic alliance often requires a delicate approach. Many diplomats utilized flattery to coax a more cooperative tone from the U.S. president. While some touchier subjects, such as the potential control of Greenland, were largely avoided during formal sessions, the strategy appeared to prevent further escalation.
In a Wednesday meeting, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised the U.S. strikes on Iran. He also sought to address Trump’s frustrations regarding defense spending, noting that the president had successfully pressured Europe to allocate more resources to the military. Rutte encouraged the president to view these developments as a significant victory for his administration.
By the conclusion of the summit, Trump appeared to accept this framing. He acknowledged that the charm offensive employed by European leaders was effective, noting that they often spoke to him with high praise in private settings. He suggested that such efforts played a role in softening his overall approach during the final sessions of the meeting.
Despite the relative calm at the end of the summit, there were moments of tension throughout the week. Trump had spent months railing against the alliance over its perceived reluctance to assist with the war in Iran. His attendance was uncertain until recently, and he admitted he only chose to attend because the summit was hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The start of Wednesday was particularly volatile. Beyond his threats toward Spain, Trump repeated demands that the U.S. take control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory belonging to Denmark. This issue has previously strained relations within the alliance. However, diplomats noted that these threats were noticeably absent during the subsequent closed sessions. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez downplayed the earlier friction, describing his interaction with Trump as very cordial.
The summit concluded with a sense of relief among diplomats. There were no major blow-ups among the allies. Trump even offered praise for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy during a bilateral meeting. As he prepared to depart, Trump insisted that the leaders had good intentions.
Still, observers note that such stability may be fleeting. During previous summits, Trump has oscillated between effusive praise for his counterparts and controversial meetings with international rivals. While he labeled the alliance’s unity as tremendous during his flight home, he also reiterated his threat to pull additional U.S. troops out of Europe, signaling that the uncertainty surrounding his commitment to the alliance persists.
