President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday for a two-day NATO summit, where he was welcomed by Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The gathering comes at a fraught time for the 77-year-old transatlantic alliance, as Washington steps back from Europe and leaders hope to strengthen the continent's ability to defend itself.
Defense spending and support for Ukraine's military needs are expected to top the agenda in the Turkish capital. President Trump continues to press allies to boost their defense spending, coming a year after NATO members pledged to increase security-related spending to 5% of GDP under pressure from the U.S. leader.
The summit is marked by simmering tensions between the U.S. and some NATO allies over Greenland and the war in Iran. President Trump has repeatedly lashed out at members for their refusal to support the U.S. and Israeli campaign in Iran, specifically venting about their refusal to heed calls for help clearing the Strait of Hormuz. New U.S. strikes on Iran serve as a further backdrop to these potentially tense meetings.
As the illusion of appeasing Trump vanishes, Europe is being forced to take primary responsibility for its own defense.