US President Donald Trump announced to NATO leaders gathered in Ankara that he had launched a new wave of military attacks on Iran. At the summit that began on Wednesday, Trump criticized European allies for not standing with the US in the Iran war and reiterated that Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, should come under US control.
Trump, who arrived in the Turkish capital on Tuesday, asserted that his allies did not provide the necessary support to the US in the Iran war. He said he might have boycotted the meeting were it not for his friendship with host President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The US administration launched new military operations against Iran in retaliation for attacks on three tankers and revoked the license allowing Iran to sell oil. This step was described as the final blow to the fragile ceasefire agreement in the war, which has generated deep discontent in Europe.
NATO Secretary General defends US attacks
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte defended the new US attacks as "absolutely necessary." Speaking to journalists ahead of the summit, Rutte said, "You have a ceasefire and Iran is fundamentally violating it. I think it is extremely important that the US responds forcefully."
On Tuesday, NATO announced a series of arms deals worth at least $50 billion to show that its European members are heeding Trump's calls to increase defense spending.
In his summit speech, Trump said he was "very disappointed" with the alliance and that the US was "not treated well" during the US-Israel war against Iran. "Why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they are not there for us? We have always been there for them," he said.
Trump accused European nations of refusing to allow US forces to use their airspace and bases during the war. European officials, however, said they had largely fulfilled their commitments to US forces even though they had not been consulted about a conflict that is upending their economies.
Criticism of Italian Prime Minister Meloni
Trump has in recent weeks made his former close ally Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni a target of his criticism. On Tuesday, Trump said his relationship with Meloni had "deteriorated somewhat because she refused to help us on Iran," but described her as "a good person."
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in Ankara, "We are ready to defend every inch of NATO territory, including our own... Of course we will defend the Kingdom of Denmark," and reiterated that Greenland is not for sale.
US continues plans to withdraw troops from Europe
Thirty-two NATO leaders met for a dinner on Tuesday evening, but the main session of the summit takes place on Wednesday. Ambassadors of all NATO members approved a summit declaration containing a commitment to "unwavering solidarity" in collective defense.
The Trump administration has pushed Europeans to increase defense spending and assume primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defense as it seeks to shift its military focus to the Indo-Pacific. The US has also decided to withdraw troops from Europe, reduce forces allocated to NATO defense plans, and launch a six-month review of its military presence on the continent.
European leaders say they are seeking to take on more responsibility for the continent's security but want a predictable and orderly transition to avoid defense gaps that could be exploited by Russia.
