Trump’s Stance on Greenland and U.S.-Turkey Relations at NATO Summit

During a NATO summit in Ankara, President Donald Trump stated the U.S. should control Greenland instead of Denmark. This renewed tensions in Europe, as the alliance announced major arms deals to align with Trump’s unpredictable demands. Trump referred to Greenland as crucial for the U.S. and falsely claimed it is encircled by Chinese and Russian ships.

NATO adheres to mutual defense principles among its 32 members, avoiding territorial threats. European countries strive to address Trump’s criticism that they underfund their defense. At the summit, Trump also revealed plans to lift sanctions on Turkey, originally imposed after Ankara bought a Russian missile defense system. This decision is seen as a nod to Trump’s positive relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“That should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark,” Trump insisted, while discussing Greenland during his meeting with Erdogan.

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Turkey after it purchased Russian S-400 missile systems in 2019, straining relations despite the close rapport between Trump and Erdogan. Although legal challenges remain for Turkey’s full re-entry into the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program, removing sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act could facilitate this process.

President Trump expressed openness to selling F-35s to Turkey due to their strong bilateral relationship. Erdogan highlighted their close ties, hoping for a favorable outcome. However, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu opposed selling F-35s to Turkey, citing regional security concerns, especially given Turkey’s possession of the Russian defense system.

Resistance exists among U.S. lawmakers about Turkey acquiring F-35s as long as it retains the S-400s. Even with lifted sanctions, U.S. law continues to restrict Turkey from purchasing the fighter jets under these conditions.

NATO’s Infrastructure Investments

NATO emphasized its investments in military infrastructure, introduced as “money well spent” to satisfy Trump’s demands. At a forum characterized by a lively ambiance, announcements were made about projects including the replacement of outdated AWACS surveillance planes. Swedish company Saab will supply ten GlobalEye surveillance aircraft for a multinational consortium.

Some projects will use funds from low-interest loans for defense from the EU, potentially amounting to $170 billion. A multinational effort involving 15 nations will acquire air-to-air refueling and transport planes from Airbus, and a separate initiative by four countries aims to procure new Triton surveillance drones.

Ukraine’s Appeal to NATO

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy advocated for Ukraine’s NATO membership, asserting the country’s armed forces’ expertise would enhance the alliance’s defense capabilities. He emphasized Ukraine’s military success against Russian targets and noted high Russian troop casualties. Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet Trump to further discuss Ukraine’s potential NATO entry.

European nations are increasingly concerned about a potential hybrid Russian attack, combining conventional military tactics with cyberattacks. A senior NATO official, maintaining anonymity, confirmed the alliance’s ability to deter Russian aggression and noted airspace violations over Poland, Romania, and Estonia as reckless actions by Russia.

Associated Press journalists Jill Lawless in London, Andy Wilks in Istanbul, Michelle L. Price, and Collin Binkley in Washington contributed to this report.