Trump may undermine NATO's Ankara summit, CNN reports
Photo: US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump headed to the NATO summit in Ankara, Türkiye, in a bad mood. Because of this, it is unclear whether the leaders will be able to hold the meeting without conflict, according to CNN.
Why Trump reluctant to attend NATO summit
The TV channel notes that Trump has never been enthusiastic about Washington’s promises to support Europe’s defense. Over the past year, he has become even more skeptical about this issue.
Trump claims that the United States' oldest allies did not support it when the country needed their help after the war in Iran began.
According to the US President himself, he is traveling to the summit in Ankara with great reluctance.
Doubts about need for NATO
Trump has never explicitly ruled out the possibility of the US withdrawing from the Alliance. He regularly questions the value of NATO to the United States, which, in his view, effectively ensures the security of all of Europe.
Other statements by the US President have added to the tension: he has threatened to take Greenland away from Denmark, also a NATO member, and has periodically expressed respect for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin.
Some European officials fear that the Russian dictator may be preparing operations on the territory of NATO countries.
All these factors, according to the agency, have created a tense atmosphere ahead of the Alliance leaders’ meeting in Ankara. At this point, there is no certainty that the talks will proceed calmly and without disputes among the participants.
Meanwhile, four NATO countries have agreed on a new approach to Alliance funding. The changes concern how exactly member states will allocate their contributions to collective defense.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced preparations to create a European NATO and, at the same time, doubled Berlin’s defense spending.
