At the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump criticized allies over Iran and burden-sharing, left without new NATO commitments on the conflict, while allies backed higher defence spending and fresh support for Ukraine.
President Donald Trump overshadowed the NATO summit in Ankara by warning the U.S. could remove all its soldiers from Europe, criticizing allies over burden-sharing and their stance on Iran, and leaving without securing new NATO commitments to assist with the Iran conflict. Even so, alliance leaders backed higher defence spending, cited more than $50 billion in new procurements, and pledged 70 billion euros ($80 billion) in military equipment, assistance and training for Ukraine, with support to be sustained at at least equivalent levels in 2027. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the summit showed progress in shifting more of Europe’s defence burden away from the United States, though NATO data showed only five of 32 members are projected to meet the 3.5% of GDP core-defence target in 2026 and 17 the separate 1.5% broader investment goal. Ukraine remained central to the agenda, with Trump saying the U.S. would give Ukraine the right to produce Patriot missile systems domestically. Middle East tensions also shaped the summit, as U.S.-Iran conflict and attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz briefly lifted oil prices on supply concerns before markets steadied on signs of diplomatic outreach.