President Donald Trump challenged NATO's united front on Wednesday at an alliance summit in Ankara, Turkey, criticizing multiple allies for insufficient defense spending and highlighting deep internal divisions.
The criticism comes as member states try to present a unified stance against long-term security threats.
Tensions rose over a newly established benchmark requiring member nations to allocate 5% of their gross domestic product to defense by 2035.
Trump targeted individual nations for failing to meet financial targets and refusing to back recent U. S.
military operations in Iran, singling out Spain during a joint press appearance with the alliance's leadership.
"Spain is a terrible partner in NATO. They don't participate.
They don't pay. I don't want anything to do with Spain.
Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits," said Trump.
The American leader also expressed dissatisfaction with other major European powers and revived his previous geopolitical goals regarding Arctic territories, which have remained a point of friction despite new alliance monitoring initiatives.
"We don't need their money, we don't need anything.
We have the most powerful military in the world by far, but I just want loyalty," said Trump.
Trump asserted that the United States had been abandoned by its traditional security partners during the recent conflict, rejecting assertions that European bases provided critical logistical support for thousands of American aerial missions.
"They weren't," said Trump.
The U. S.
President maintained a critical stance toward the collective commitment of European partners, reiterating that Washington had not received adequate support.
"We were let down," said Trump.
NATO Chief Defends Alliance Solidarity
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte defended the alliance's solidarity, noting substantial budget increases among European members, including Germany's projected $124 billion military expenditure by 2027.
"There is complete commitment of the United States to NATO … the commitment is there, no doubt," said Rutte.
Rutte emphasized that European and Canadian partners have substantially increased their defense spending since 2017, using data charts to demonstrate collective growth during discussions with the American administration.
"I know there have been debates about whether your allies in Europe were with you enough. I just want to say one thing," said Rutte.
The Secretary General pushed back against claims of European abandonment by pointing out that thousands of American flights utilized continental bases during the six-week war in Iran.
"Let me say one thing.
I know you think that [and] your irritation about that, but when you look at the numbers, 4,000-5,000 US planes [took] off from bases in Europe in the six weeks this war took place," said Rutte.
Rutte acknowledged distinct areas of friction but maintained that the aggregate military contributions demonstrated European reliability.
"I know there have been isolated cases about which you are really disappointed, but generally speaking, your European allies have been there," said Rutte.
Rutte shifted focus to presentation materials detailing increased defense allocations, highlighting recent policy shifts as a unified stance against external adversaries.
"I want to show you what this president was able to achieve," said Rutte.
The alliance leadership concluded by emphasizing their collective strength and warning outside nations against provoking the member states.
"Don't fool with us.
My message is that this alliance of 1 billion people living in Europe, living in Canada, living in the United States, that this alliance will defend every inch of our territory," said Rutte.
"You cannot win [against] NATO. We are defensive.
We will never attack anyone. We will only defend our way of life, our democracies, our territory.
So don't fool with us, don't play with us," said Rutte.
Additional sessions at the Ankara summit will focus on long-term regional deterrence and security strategies along Europe's eastern borders.
