NATO Ankara summit: Trump’s Greenland claim meets Rutte’s rebuttal

At the NATO summit in Ankara, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his demand that the United States control Greenland, calling the Danish‑run island strategically vital and accusing Europe of not supporting U.S. interests. He also criticised Spain as a “terrible partner” and pressed NATO members to increase defence spending.

NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte defended the alliance, saying NATO is stronger than ever and praising Trump for urging European nations to boost their defence budgets. Rutte described the United States as the dominant player in NATO, accounting for half the alliance’s economy, and affirmed the bloc’s commitment to Article 5 and continued support for Ukraine, including a licence to produce Patriot missiles.

European leaders expressed relief that the summit ended on a positive note but warned of future turbulence in U.S.–European ties. They stressed the importance of keeping the United States within the alliance while also preparing for a scenario in which Europe must assume greater security responsibilities. Russian officials criticised the summit, claiming it heightened European militarisation and increased global security risks.