NATO leaders showcase big arms deals as Trump feels let down, renews push to control Greenland

NATO leaders gathered in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday, presenting a united front with arms deals totaling tens of billions of dollars, a move intended to demonstrate their commitment to increased defense spending as urged by the United States. The summit aimed to project unity after a challenging year, particularly concerning the Iran war, which had exposed divisions within the alliance.

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Well, we're going to see. I was very disappointed with NATO.

U.S. President Donald Trump, however, voiced his dissatisfaction, stating he felt let down by key allies like Britain, France, Germany, and Italy for not adequately supporting the U.S. effort in the Iran war. He suggested he might have skipped the summit if not for his relationship with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, and did not rule out further troop withdrawals from Europe. "We weren't treated well by the allies," Trump remarked, despite asserting he did not need their assistance.

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Before I asked, they said they wouldn't be there, and we've invested trillions of dollars in NATO.

Amidst his criticisms of allies, Trump announced the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Turkey, imposed in 2020 due to Ankara's acquisition of Russian air defense missiles. He also indicated a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, a significant gesture to President Erdogan and a move to resolve a long-standing bilateral issue. Trump also mentioned discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy regarding ending the war that began in February 2022, expressing optimism that a deal could be reached.

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I think they both want to make a deal. It's too bad it took so long ... Something's going to come out.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte highlighted substantial increases in European defense spending and called for a "revolution" in the defense industry across the alliance. He emphasized the urgency of developing new capabilities to counter threats from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, stating, "We don't have the luxury of time. We need capabilities now." The defense deals announced included European nations purchasing surveillance drones from U.S. company Northrop Grumman and NATO acquiring planes from Sweden's Saab, with estimates suggesting the deals could be worth at least $50 billion.

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We don't have the luxury of time. We need capabilities now to ensure we remain ready. The security situation demands it.