During a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, President Donald Trump took the international community by surprise. He initiated military strikes on Iran late on Tuesday and revoked a license allowing Iran to sell oil globally. This unexpected development shifted the summit’s focus from displaying increased defense spending by alliance members and supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
The strikes were a response to attacks on three merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz. They highlighted the fragility of a temporary agreement aiming to cease hostilities between the two nations. Trump ordered the strikes shortly after a dinner hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Leaders from NATO’s 32 member countries had gathered there ahead of discussions to assess progress on NATO’s spending goals.
Notably, launching military action while abroad is uncommon for U.S. presidents. However, in 2011, former President Barack Obama authorized strikes in Libya during a trip to Brazil.
Some European allies and Canada were concerned that Trump might voice more grievances about the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran. These allies were not consulted on the matter, and Trump had previously criticized NATO as a “paper tiger.” He expressed dissatisfaction with allies like Italy, Germany, and France for not permitting U.S. forces to use their bases against Iran.
“Italy turned us down and Germany turned us down and France turned us down,” Trump remarked. “And that’s OK. But, you know, why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they’re not there for us?”
NATO leaders aimed to demonstrate unity and deter potential threats, with a focus on reassuring alliance strength against Russia, which continues its war with Ukraine. To appease Trump, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte highlighted the “Trump Trillion” — an investment of $1.2 trillion by European allies and Canada in defense since Trump’s administration began in 2017.
Rutte organized an event in Ankara to reveal planned allocations for this budget, which heavily favors U.S. companies, boosting American jobs. However, recent comments from Trump in Turkey suggested further criticism was forthcoming.
Trump reignited past disputes, such as the U.S. interest in controlling Greenland rather than it remaining with NATO ally Denmark. This notion contradicted NATO’s foundational principle of mutual defense among its members.
Trump has consistently argued that the U.S. shoulders too much of NATO’s defense responsibility. Last year, members committed to investing 5% of their GDP on defense-related initiatives. However, figures released by NATO indicated that countries like Slovenia, Belgium, Spain, and the Czech Republic are not meeting even the former target of 2% GDP investment, which may concern the Trump administration.
The Trump administration advocates for a “NATO 3.0,” where Europe would manage its security, including Ukraine, using conventional weapons, while the U.S. continues its nuclear deterrence role. However, European allies and Canada seek clarity on potential reductions of U.S. forces in Europe, pending a Pentagon review.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made renewed calls for Ukraine’s NATO membership. He touted Ukraine’s formidable military capabilities and their contribution to NATO’s overall defense strength. This includes its operational success against Russian forces.
Rising apprehensions among European nations about potential hybrid warfare threats from Russia underscore the urgency of NATO solidarity. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s difficulties in achieving victory in Ukraine increase these concerns.
Trump also plans to meet with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former insurgent who ousted Bashar Assad in December 2024. Though al-Sharaa once had ties to al-Qaida, Trump supports his efforts to rebuild Syria and restore its ties with the West. The Syrian leader’s reluctance to combat Hezbollah, despite Trump’s suggestions, has prompted alarms in Lebanon and Israel.
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