Trump's NATO summit tensions spur European defence push

At the NATO summit European leaders warned that U.S. President Donald Trump cannot be relied upon for alliance commitments. German politician Friedrich Merz and his European counterparts highlighted rising defence budgets, unveiled new weapons orders and pledged additional aid for Ukraine, while expressing concern that a possible U.S. drawdown could leave the NATO alliance weaker against Russia.

During the summit Trump caused a scene, threatening to cancel meetings and provoking disputes over Greenland and the Iran conflict. In response, allies showcased continued cooperation, exemplified by Canada’s multibillion‑dollar order for twelve advanced submarines from Germany’s TKMS shipyard, signalling that the partnership extends beyond the United States. The leaders stressed that without steady U.S. support, Russia could exploit any security gaps in Europe.