NATO Leaders Gather in Ankara to Navigate Trump Era Tensions
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NATO alliance leaders have convened in Ankara, Turkey, seeking to persuade U.S. President Donald Trump that European member states are taking defense spending seriously. Trump has repeatedly criticized European allies for insufficient military investment and limited support for U.S. policy on Iran. In a gesture aimed at appeasing the American president, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced planned purchases of aircraft and drones ahead of the summit. The meeting reflects broader anxiety among European NATO members about maintaining Washington's commitment to the alliance under Trump's leadership, as the president has questioned the value of collective defense arrangements that underpin European security.