President Donald Trump arrived at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7, 2026, expressing dissatisfaction with allies who did not support U.S. actions against Iran. Trump has publicly questioned the strength and loyalty of NATO allies, particularly in light of their refusal to provide air bases for U.S. strikes on Iran and to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. His criticism has reportedly hardened into contempt for NATO.
In the lead-up to the summit, Trump has made disparaging remarks about European leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He indicated that he considered skipping the summit, stating, "We don't need their money — we don't need anything. I just want loyalty."
Concerns are rising in Europe regarding the implications of Trump's attitude on U.S. military presence in the region. The Pentagon has reduced the number of U.S. Army brigade combat teams in Europe and canceled a planned deployment of approximately 4,000 troops to Poland. Additionally, the U.S. has decreased the number of aircraft and naval assets available to NATO in a crisis.
During the summit, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a review of U.S. forces in Europe, criticizing allies for not allowing access for operations against Iran. U.S. officials indicated that while a NATO drawdown is not on the table, Trump's dissatisfaction with European allies persists. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker stated that Trump would advocate for allies to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.
Trump's meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is anticipated to address the fallout from Iran, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged Trump not to sell advanced weapons systems to Turkey. Trump is also scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during the summit, with discussions expected to focus on military support and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.