Trump urges Europe to boost defense spending at NATO summit in Ankara

NATO summit Ankara Trump defense spending push European military spending 5% GDP Air Force One subpoena Iran infrastructure threat

President Donald Trump and U.S. ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker declared the July 2026 NATO summit in Ankara a “huge success,” saying the alliance is becoming more capable and urging European members to raise defense spending to 5 % of GDP by 2035. Whitaker praised Poland, the Baltic states and Greece for increasing budgets while warning Spain, France, Italy and the United Kingdom to meet the new target.

During the summit Trump threatened to bomb Iran’s bridges and power plants if Tehran did not return to negotiations, echoing earlier statements about a 20 % Hormuz tax. He also announced a primetime TV address focused on alleged 2020 election fraud and hinted at further policy announcements.

The summit also sparked a legal clash in the United States: The New York Times filed a motion to quash Justice Department subpoenas issued to its reporters over coverage of security concerns with a newly delivered Qatari‑gifted Air Force One. The administration said the subpoenas target leaks of classified information, not the journalists themselves.

Other coverage from the event included a viral video of a Russian soldier thrown by a repurposed Soviet‑era helicopter gun, and commentary on NATO’s ongoing restructuring to reduce European dependence on U.S. forces while continuing support for Ukraine.