Key Developments on the Final Day of the NATO Summit

President Donald Trump spent the last day of the NATO summit addressing crucial topics like defense spending and support for Ukraine. NATO leaders aimed to showcase unity in transatlantic security following several significant announcements and meetings during the summit’s opening day.

Trump joined other leaders for the summit’s only plenary session. He held bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. A press conference was expected to conclude Trump’s visit before departing from Ankara, Turkey, to Washington.

The previous day, during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Trump announced the U.S. would lift sanctions on Turkey. He highlighted, “We don’t sanction friends.” Trump expressed willingness to proceed with selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, despite previous U.S. opposition due to Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defense system.

The day’s agenda emphasized efforts to bolster collective defense within NATO. Members continued to implement higher defense spending commitments and coordinated support for Ukraine, over four years after Russia’s extensive invasion.

Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy garnered attention as Ukraine sought military assistance and air defense capabilities from allies. Kyiv warned of critically low supplies of Patriot interceptor missiles, essential for defense against Russian ballistic missiles. During a recent barrage, depleted stocks meant no missile interceptors were available.

Ukrainian officials appealed to nearly 40 partner nations for immediate transfer of Patriot interceptors from existing stockpiles. Although supported by European nations, including Germany, deliveries of hundreds of Patriot missiles were not expected soon.

Trump also met with Syrian President al-Sharaa, whose government sought closer ties with Washington after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. This shift altered the Middle East’s security landscape, creating U.S.-Turkish cooperation opportunities.

As the summit concluded, discussions also focused on turning the 2025 commitment of GDP allocation for defense into tangible capabilities. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte urged nations to present credible plans for speeding up the production of weapons and military infrastructure to deter Russia.

Despite the emphasis on unity, Trump criticized European allies. He questioned whether NATO members adequately support the United States and suggested a possible withdrawal of U.S. troops from Europe. Trump also reiterated his interest in U.S. control of Greenland, expressing dissatisfaction with the current state of American investment in European security.