President Donald Trump surprised NATO leaders meeting in Turkey by launching a series of strikes on Iran late Tuesday and revoking an oil sales license for Tehran, significantly altering the agenda of a summit intended to highlight increased alliance defense spending and support for Ukraine against Russia.
The military action was retaliation following attacks on three merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz and highlighted the precarious state of an interim agreement aimed at ending months of conflict between the two nations. Trump initiated the attacks shortly after leaving a dinner hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, where leaders from NATO's 32 member countries had gathered before Wednesday’s talks focused on progress toward meeting NATO spending targets.
Trump did not directly address the strikes Tuesday night. It is uncommon for U.S. presidents to conduct military operations while abroad; however, in 2011, former President Barack Obama authorized strikes in Libya during a trip to Brazil.
European allies and Canada had expressed apprehension that Trump might introduce new grievances regarding the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, an issue they were never consulted about. Trump had previously demanded "loyalty" and labeled NATO a "paper tiger" after some allies declined granting open access to their bases for U.S. forces targeting Iran.
During his meeting with Erdogan on Tuesday, Trump stated he felt he was testing NATO allies when requesting assistance in the Iran war. “Italy turned us down and Germany turned us down and France turned us down,” Trump said. “And that’s OK. But, you know, why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they’re not there for us?”
NATO leaders had been attempting to demonstrate how they were increasing defense capabilities.
NATO summits are structured as displays of unity intended to deter potential adversaries—a resolve deemed increasingly vital as Russia continues its war in Ukraine and concerns grow over other European countries facing threats.
To try and appease the U.S. leader last month, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte traveled to Washington to acknowledge the "Trump Trillion"—the $1.2 trillion that European allies and Canada have added to defense spending since Trump took office in 2017.
As leaders arrived in Ankara, Rutte held a "big reveal" event showcasing various deals planned for those funds—much of which would benefit U.S. companies by creating thousands of American jobs.
NATO diplomats and officials had hoped Trump would view this positively, but based on some of his comments since arriving in Turkey, they anticipate further criticism.
Trump reignited old disputes concerning Greenland before the meeting by insisting that the United States should control the semi-autonomous island rather than NATO ally Denmark. NATO is founded on the principle that its 32 members will defend each other's territory, not threaten to seize it.
On Wednesday, Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen again rejected this demand, stating that “Greenland is of course not for sale.”
“We hope that all, including all allies, will respect the Greenland people right for self-determination,” she said. “And we are sovereign states and we need everybody to respect our territorial integrity and our sovereignty.”
She added that Denmark is "ready to defend every inch of NATO including our own territory" should an attack occur and would rely on NATO allies to honor their mutual defense commitments.
NATO prepares for Trump’s criticisms.
Trump has long argued that the U.S. shoulders a disproportionate share of the defense burden for NATO. At last year's summit, allies agreed to invest 5% of their gross domestic product in defense—3.5% in defense budgets and 1.5% in roads, bridges, and ports to facilitate faster troop and equipment movement during conflict.
Rutte had required members ahead of this year’s meeting to present "clear, concrete and credible plans" to meet the organization's defense spending targets.
New figures released by NATO on Tuesday indicated that Slovenia, Belgium, Spain, and the Czech Republic might face scrutiny from the Trump administration as they struggle to reach the alliance's former target of investing 2% of their GDP.
The Trump administration seeks a more streamlined and potent "NATO 3.0," where Europe assumes responsibility for its own security, including Ukraine, using conventional weaponry while America maintains its nuclear protection.
However, European allies and Canada are still seeking clarity on the extent to which Trump intends to reduce U.S. troop numbers in Europe.
The Pentagon has initiated a six-month review of this presence, and any drawdowns could depend on how quickly European allies increase defense spending and whether they agree to allow greater use of their bases.
Ukraine's Zelenskyy advocates for NATO membership.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a renewed appeal Tuesday for Ukraine to join the alliance, asserting that Ukrainian armed forces are highly experienced and would enhance NATO’s defensive capabilities.
Zelenskyy, who is scheduled to meet with Trump in Ankara on Wednesday, emphasized Ukraine’s adaptability and its capacity to strike deep within Russia, targeting Moscow's oil refineries and other energy assets. He stated that Ukraine’s armed forces are "eliminating" an average of 30,000 Russian troops monthly.
Concerns have been rising among some northern, central, and eastern European countries that Russia may be preparing a hybrid attack—a mix of conventional warfare and tactics such as cyberattacks—on the continent while Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks victory in Ukraine.
Trump will also meet with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former insurgent who led the offensive that removed autocrat Bashar Assad in December 2024. Despite his past involvement with al-Qaida, al-Sharaa has gained Trump's support as he aims to rebuild Syria and restore its fractured ties with the West.
Trump has repeatedly suggested that al-Sharaa would be more effective than the Israeli army at eliminating Hezbollah in Lebanon, a suggestion that has raised alarms in both Lebanon and Israel. The Syrian leader has stated he has no interest in undertaking such an action.