President Donald Trump arrived at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, expressing frustration with several European allies regarding their responses to U.S. operations against Iran. The summit, taking place on July 7 and 8, 2026, is expected to address defense spending, Ukraine, and NATO's strategy toward Russia.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated that Trump is disappointed with allies who did not allow U.S. forces to use their military bases or airspace during operations against Iran, as well as those who criticized the strikes. Trump has publicly criticized NATO allies, including Spain, for their lack of support for U.S. actions in Iran.
The disagreements are anticipated to influence discussions at the summit, where Trump is expected to urge allies to increase defense spending and address whether NATO members are prepared to support the U.S. in conflicts beyond Europe. The operation against Iran has highlighted disparities in military capabilities among NATO members, with some countries limiting their support to logistical assistance.
While the Middle East is not the main agenda item, it raises questions about burden-sharing within NATO and the commitment of allies to support U.S. initiatives. Trump has previously criticized NATO for relying too heavily on the U.S. and has suggested that he may reconsider U.S. defense commitments to allies that do not meet spending obligations. The summit will also focus on NATO's new defense spending benchmark of 5% of GDP, with discussions expected to include potential countermeasures for countries that fail to meet these goals.