A NATO summit was held in Ankara, Turkey, bringing together the leaders of the Alliance member states. Before the start of the summit, US President Donald Trump made several critical remarks toward allied countries.

Regarding Italy, Trump stated that the country had been "terrible" in its management of US military bases used for the "Epic Fury" operation against Iran. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who attended a dinner alongside the American president, described the relationship between the two as "cordial."

On Spain, Trump called it a "hopeless case" and a "terrible partner" within NATO, accusing Madrid of not meeting defense spending commitments and threatening to suspend trade relations. However, as several outlets noted, trade relations with Spain fall under the exclusive competence of the European Union, not bilateral agreements. An EU Commission spokesperson stated that the executive "is committed to protecting EU interests" and that member states are "fully protected."

Trump also revisited the Greenland issue, reiterating US interest in the Arctic island, which is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. He claimed Greenland is vital to the United States and referenced the historical episode of Denmark's occupation by Nazi Germany. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded that Denmark is a "sovereign state" and that its sovereignty must be respected.

In contrast, Trump expressed appreciation for Chinese President Xi Jinping, calling himself a "great fan" and noting that China did not enter the Iran conflict and did not supply military equipment to Tehran.

During the closed-door session of the summit, Trump reassured allies of his intention to remain in NATO and did not reiterate the earlier criticisms. In a press conference afterward, the US president struck a conciliatory tone: he said the summit "could not have gone better," spoke of "much love" and "great unity" among allies, and mentioned "steps toward peace."

Trump also announced a forthcoming phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that "Russia is not a black sheep," and confirmed he would remain engaged in NATO. Regarding the war in Ukraine, Trump approved licensing for Patriot missile systems to be produced in Ukraine, a move intended to strengthen Kiev's air defenses. He noted that relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had improved. According to specialized analyses, the effect will not be immediate due to long lead times, sensitive technologies involved, and the risk that production facilities could become targets of Russian strikes.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron is preparing exercises by the so-called "Coalition of the Willing" ahead of a summit scheduled in Paris.