President Donald Trump surprised NATO leaders meeting in Turkey by launching a series of strikes on Iran late Tuesday and revoking a license that allowed Tehran to sell oil on the world market. This major twist shifted the summit's focus from showcasing increased defense spending and support for Ukraine's war with Russia to addressing the new military action.
Retaliation for Strait of Hormuz Attacks
The strikes were retaliation after three merchant ships were struck in the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the fragility of an interim deal to end months of fighting between the two countries. Trump launched the attacks shortly after leaving a dinner hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where leaders of the alliance's 32 member countries had gathered ahead of Wednesday's talks meant to focus on progress toward meeting NATO's spending targets.
Trump did not directly address the strikes Tuesday night. It is rare for US presidents to launch military action while outside the US, though in 2011 former President Barack Obama authorized strikes in Libya while on a trip to Brazil.
Allies Wary of Trump's Demands
European allies and Canada had been wary that Trump might raise fresh grievances over the US-Israeli war on Iran, which they were never consulted about. Trump had demanded “loyalty” and branded NATO a “paper tiger” after some allies refused to grant open access to their bases for US forces to attack Iran. On Tuesday, during a meeting with Erdogan, Trump said he had been testing NATO allies when he asked for their help with the Iran war. “Italy turned us down and Germany turned us down and France turned us down,” Trump said. “And that’s OK. But, you know, why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they’re not there for us?”
Show of Unity and Defense Spending
NATO leaders had been trying to show Trump how they were boosting defense. NATO summits are designed to be a show of unity aimed at deterring any potential adversary — a resolve more important than ever as Russia continues to wage war on Ukraine, and concerns mount that other European countries could be targeted. In an attempt last month to mollify the US leader, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte went to Washington to hail the “Trump Trillion” — the $1.2 trillion that European allies and Canada have added to defense spending since Trump came to power in 2017.
As leaders converged on Ankara, Rutte hosted a “big reveal” event to showcase the many deals planned for that money — much of it to be spent on US companies, creating thousands of jobs for Americans. NATO diplomats and officials had hoped that Trump would take the win, but judging by some of his remarks since arriving in Turkey, they are in for yet another dressing down.
Greenland Tensions Resurface
Trump reopened old wounds over Greenland on the eve of the meeting by insisting that the United States should control the semiautonomous island rather than NATO ally Denmark. NATO is founded on the principle that its 32 members will defend each other's territory, not threaten to seize it. On Wednesday, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen again rejected the demand, saying that “Greenland is of course not for sale.” “We hope that all, including all allies, will respect the Greenland people's right for self-determination,” she said. “And we are sovereign states and we need everybody to respect our territorial integrity and our sovereignty.” She said Denmark is “ready to defend every inch of NATO including our own territory” in the event of an attack and would rely on NATO allies to honor their commitment to defend each other.
NATO Braces for Trump's Grievances
Trump has long argued that the US carries more than its fair share of the defense burden for NATO. At last year’s summit, the allies had agreed to invest 5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense — 3.5 percent on their defense budgets and 1.5 percent on roads, bridges and ports so troops and equipment can move faster in times of conflict. Rutte had demanded ahead of this year’s meeting that members put forward “clear, concrete and credible plans” to reach the organization’s defense spending targets.
New figures released by NATO on Tuesday showed that Slovenia, Belgium, Spain and the Czech Republic could be in hot water with the Trump administration as they struggle to meet the alliance’s old target of investing 2 percent of their GDP. The Trump administration wants to see a more lean and lethal “NATO 3.0,” with Europe taking responsibility for its own security, including Ukraine, with conventional weapons while America would continue to provide its nuclear umbrella. However, European allies and Canada are still seeking clarity on just how deeply Trump intends to cut US force numbers in Europe. The Pentagon has launched a 6-month review of that presence and the drawdowns could depend on how fast the European allies increase defense spending and whether they are prepared to allow greater use of their bases.
Ukraine's Zelensky Pushes for NATO Entry
President Volodymyr Zelensky made a fresh appeal Tuesday for Ukraine to be allowed to join the alliance, saying Ukrainian armed forces are highly experienced and would only boost NATO’s defense capabilities. Zelensky, who is expected to meet with Trump in Ankara on Wednesday, highlighted Ukraine’s adaptability and its ability to strike deep inside Russia, hit Moscow’s oil refineries and other energy targets. He said Ukraine’s armed forces are “eliminating” on average 30,000 Russian troops every month. Concern has been mounting among some northern, central and eastern European countries that Russia might be preparing a hybrid attack — a combination of conventional warfare with tactics like cyberattacks — on the continent as Russian President Vladimir Putin struggles to secure victory in Ukraine.
Trump to Meet Syrian President
Trump will also meet with Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, a former insurgent who led the offensive that unseated autocrat Bashar Assad in December 2024. Despite having once been an Al-Qaeda fighter, Al-Sharaa has won Trump’s backing as he seeks to rebuild Syria and restore its long-shattered ties with the West. Trump has repeatedly suggested that Al-Sharaa would do a better job of rooting out Hezbollah in Lebanon than the Israeli army, raising alarms in Lebanon and Israel alike. The Syrian leader has said he has no interest in doing so.
