Ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, there was concern among NATO leaders that Trump would lecture his allies and present a picture of a divided defense alliance. Before the actual start of the meeting, he called one of NATO's countries, Spain, a “terrible partner” for not allowing American planes to use bases in Spain for the war in Iran. And he reiterated his demand that the United States must take care of Greenland, the territory of NATO member Denmark.
But the president's words after the meeting were positive.
"It was a fantastic meeting," says a seemingly slightly tired and hoarse Trump at his own press conference.
One can describe the day in one word: unification.
He praised member states for making great progress towards the goal of rearmament and increasing defense spending to the equivalent of 5 percent of GDP, a goal set at last year's summit.
Adheres to Article 5
According to a joint statement from the summit, NATO leaders stand firmly behind the alliance's defense clause, Article 5.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's (M) answer to the question of whether it is not a sign of weakness to have to say that Article 5 applies is:
You can say that, but it would have been worse if it hadn't been said.
He adds that the United States also stands behind the article stating that an attack on one NATO member should be seen as an attack on all.
Split impression
Kristersson admits that Trump's harsh words and threats and later words of love and unity, and the other NATO countries' vain attempts to talk about unity regardless of what Trump says, can be seen as contradictory. NATO chief Mark Rutte called the Ankara meeting a fantastic success, with a unity he had never seen before and claimed that everyone praised Trump.
It is clear that it can give a divided impression, says Kristersson.
No surprises, thank you!
NATO countries agree that Europe should take greater responsibility for its part of the world when the US may want to move soldiers and weapons away.
"We want the shift to greater European responsibility to happen transparently, clearly and in an orderly manner. Not through surprises," says the Prime Minister.
Donald Trump and his Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have made several surprising statements about reducing American forces in Europe.
In addition to Trump promising the country a license to manufacture the highly sought-after Patriot missiles in a separate meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, NATO countries are pledging 70 billion euros in support in 2026 and at least as much in 2027. 30 billion per year of that will come from the EU's agreed 90 billion loan.
