The Patriot Post® · Trump's Massive NATO Impact

Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization met in Ankara, Turkey, this week. Tensions had heightened ahead of this year’s summit, as President Donald Trump criticized several alliance members, particularly over their refusal to support the U.S. military in its joint operation with Israel against Iran.

For example, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the U.S. operation against Iran “illegal, absurd, and cruel.”

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker observed that Trump “has expressed disappointment in both a couple of our allies’ unwillingness to support us using our bases in their countries," in the joint U.S.-Israel operation against Iran.

Last month, Trump even floated the notion of not attending, telling reporters, "Except for the fact that it was being held in Turkey by President Erdogan, I don’t think I would have gone to it.” Among other things, he added, “There’s a problem with Spain.”

This all had some NATO allies somewhat concerned as to what might transpire at the summit. Ever since coming into office, Trump has leveled sharp criticism at the alliance, and more often than not, deservedly so, over member nations’ failure to meet agreed-upon defense spending standards. He’s even threatened to pull the U.S. out of NATO, arguing that member nations were using the U.S. for their own security rather than partnering with the U.S. and developing their own militaries.

Despite all that — or rather, because of his posture — Trump has successfully gotten NATO nations to meet their defense spending obligations and increase them to 5% of each nation’s GDP by 2035. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drove home Trump’s point, which is why NATO is stronger today than just a few years ago.

Upon arriving in Turkey, Trump praised his hosts and announced that the U.S. would lift sanctions against the NATO ally and would consider allowing Turkey to purchase F-35 fighter jets again. “I was very disappointed with NATO,” Trump explained. “And frankly, if it weren’t held in Turkey, where my friend happens to be a very strong leader — a very strong, uh, person — it’s possible that I wouldn’t have attended. I felt I had to attend.”

The day prior, Trump said that Turkey “frankly has been more helpful to the United States than many other more traditional countries." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has pursued these fighter jets, raising significant concern both in the U.S. and across NATO, given Turkey’s friendly relationship with Russia. The fear is that Turkey could share the technology with Russia.

Trump, however, dismissed such concerns. "I have no concerns at all about anything,” he insisted. “I mean, he’s a leader of a country that he’s made a much better country, much more powerful country. … No, I have no concerns about anything having to do with Turkey.”

This does elevate Erdoğan, both in hosting the summit and in Trump’s comments praising Turkey as a good ally. However, this may be Trump’s strategy to get more support in NATO and the region for his ongoing efforts against Iran. Furthermore, it helps to pull Turkey closer to the U.S. interests and away from Russia.

Speaking of Russia and its war in Ukraine, Trump also expressed favorable support for Ukraine as he announced a deal with Kyiv to license the manufacture of the Patriot missile system for its own defense. As Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, “This way, you can’t complain that we’re not giving them enough.”

Trump explained the deal, stating, “It’s a defensive situation, as opposed to an offensive [one]. Let’s say, ‘Make them yourself.’ We haven’t informed the company of that yet, but that’ll work out all right.”

Trump also praised Zelensky, saying, “We’ve actually developed a very good relationship.” That’s quite a change from last March, when Trump ousted an ungrateful Zelensky from the White House.

However, with Ukraine now taking more of the fight to Russia, seemingly putting the Russians on the back foot, Trump recognizes this as an opportunity to get Russia to potentially agree to a peace deal. As Trump put it, “It’s an escalation, but it’s also an escalation that can help lead to an end.”

Meanwhile, Trump reiterated his desire for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, an issue that NATO allies, especially Denmark, have repeatedly rejected. “That’s what hurt my relationship with NATO," Trump observed. "Because Greenland doesn’t help Denmark. Denmark doesn’t spend money to really help Greenland. But it’s an important part for the United States. … That should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark.”

Overall, Trump is continuing his efforts to reinvent the NATO alliance to better align with his geopolitical concerns and interests. And, at the end of the day, Europe will be stronger for it.