Trump Presses NATO Allies, Backs Ukraine Patriot Production in Ankara Summit

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – President Donald Trump closed a tense NATO summit Wednesday by hailing what he called “tremendous unity” inside the alliance, even after delivering blunt warnings to Spain, renewing his push for U.S. control of Greenland, and announcing a major step to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses against Russia.

The two-day summit in Ankara produced major defense commitments, new weapons deals, and a fresh show of Western resolve as Russia’s war against Ukraine nears its fifth year. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised Trump for pushing European allies and Canada toward a 5% defense-spending goal, saying the president had forced the alliance to confront years of underinvestment. Reuters reported that NATO also moved to strengthen Baltic air defense during the summit.

“You made this happen,” Rutte told Trump during a sidelines meeting.

Trump, never shy about taking credit for forcing NATO’s hand, responded warmly.

“That’s why I like him,” the president said, pointing back at the NATO chief.

Rutte called the summit “tremendously successful,” citing tens of billions of dollars in new weapons deals and major investments in fuel storage and distribution infrastructure.

“The message from this summit is simple: NATO delivers,” Rutte said.

Trump Targets Spain Over Defense Spending, Iran Cooperation

Still, the summit exposed deep strains inside the alliance.

Trump singled out Spain, accusing Madrid of failing to carry its share of NATO’s defense burden and refusing to cooperate with U.S. operations tied to the Iran conflict. Reuters reported that Trump ordered an immediate halt to U.S. trade with Spain, escalating tensions over defense spending and military cooperation, though trade policy for Spain is handled through the European Union.

“Spain is a terrible partner in NATO,” Trump said. “They don’t participate, they don’t pay.”

Spain has resisted NATO’s 5% defense-spending target, though Rutte pushed back mildly, saying Madrid had made progress by reaching the 2% benchmark after years of lower spending. Trump was not persuaded, calling Spain disrespectful to the alliance and warning that U.S. patience had run out.

The Spanish government appeared to downplay the remarks, treating them as part of Trump’s familiar pressure campaign on NATO allies.

Later Wednesday, Trump softened his tone, saying several allies had “answered the call” and were making major changes.

Ukraine Gets Patriot Missile Production Path

The most consequential announcement came in Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where the president said the United States would allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missiles under a U.S. license.

Patriot systems are central to Ukraine’s ability to defend its cities from Russian missile and drone attacks. The Guardian reported that Trump’s announcement gave Kyiv a diplomatic boost, though the details remained unclear and the president acknowledged the companies involved had not yet been fully consulted.

“This way, you can’t complain that we’re not giving them enough,” Trump told Zelenskyy.

The Times of India also reported that Trump said Washington would grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missile interceptors, describing the move as a significant step for Ukraine’s air-defense capacity.

“It’s a defensive situation, as opposed to an offensive,” Trump said. “Let’s say, ‘make them yourself.’”

The announcement comes as Russia continues heavy strikes on Ukrainian cities and Ukraine expands attacks on Russian infrastructure. The Associated Press reported that Ukrainian drone strikes recently hit Russian oil facilities and tankers, while Moscow continued missile attacks on Ukraine.

Trump said both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin want an end to the war, though he acknowledged the difficulty of reaching a settlement.

“Putin’s a difficult character, and this guy’s a difficult character,” Trump said. “I think we’ve made a lot of progress in the last couple of weeks.”

Zelenskyy thanked Trump and the United States for the support, saying Russia is suffering heavy battlefield losses while still refusing to clearly define what it would accept to end the war.

A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers who met with Zelenskyy at the summit urged Trump to keep pressure on Moscow, saying Putin is weaker than he has been in years and that sustained pressure could help bring the war to a close.

Greenland Returns as a NATO Flashpoint

Trump also revived one of the most sensitive issues between Washington and Copenhagen: Greenland.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Wednesday that Greenland is “not for sale” and vowed to defend the island’s right to self-determination. Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, while Denmark retains control over foreign policy, defense, and monetary policy.

Trump argued that Greenland’s strategic position makes it essential for U.S. and Western security, especially as Russia and China expand their Arctic ambitions. The island’s location is critical for missile warning systems, space surveillance, and future transpolar shipping routes.

“We need it for protection of the world, not just the United States,” Trump said.

Rutte said NATO allies had established a process for handling Arctic security concerns earlier this year and suggested the issue could be managed diplomatically.

Trump Signals Syria Terror Designation Could Be Lifted

Trump also said he intends to lift Syria’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, subject to a 45-day congressional review period, citing what he described as progress under Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

“I think I will. Why wouldn’t I?” Trump said when asked about removing Syria from the list.

The president said Syria could help the United States deal with Hezbollah, Iran’s proxy in Lebanon, which has fought Israel for years. A bipartisan group of lawmakers recently urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to lift the designation, arguing that the legal grounds for the listing no longer apply and that the designation remains a barrier to giving Syria a chance to rebuild.

NATO Leaves Ankara With Strengthened Posture

For all the tensions, the Ankara summit ended with NATO projecting strength.

Rutte delivered a direct warning to Moscow, saying the alliance remains defensive but fully prepared to protect its territory.

“This alliance will defend every inch of our territory,” he said. “We will never attack anyone. We will only defend our way of life, our democracies, our territories. So don’t fool with us, don’t play with us.”

Trump’s approach was unmistakable: pressure allies hard, demand higher spending, defend U.S. leverage, and push partners to carry more of the burden. By the end of the summit, even critics of his style were forced to admit the alliance had moved — and Ukraine had gained a potentially important new path to defend its skies.

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