Trump calls US-NATO relationship ‘ridiculous’ ahead of Ankara summit

President Donald Trump escalated his long-running feud with NATO allies on Thursday, calling the United States' relationship with the alliance "ridiculous" and "one-sided" days before the bloc's leaders are set to convene in Ankara, Turkey.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump declared that European allies "were not there for us" and that Washington's relationship with NATO "is not reciprocal." The post included a chart depicting US defense spending compared to other member states, illustrating the disparity Trump has repeatedly cited. His remarks come as several European countries restricted the use of bases for US forces during the war in Iran, a point of deepening frustration for the president.english.aawsat+1

Europe Responds

The July 7-8 NATO summit at Turkey's Beştepe Presidential Complex will bring together leaders from all 32 member states at a moment of acute transatlantic strain. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pushed back against Trump's burden-sharing criticism, saying Europe must take greater responsibility for its own defense — not as a favor to the United States, but because of the threat from Russia.politico+3

Germany has committed to raising defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2029, up from current levels, representing its most ambitious rearmament effort since the end of the Cold War. Berlin has also signaled it could reach the alliance's 5 percent target "well before" the 2035 deadline agreed at last year's summit in The Hague. Germany has signed more than 380 contracts worth over $33 billion with US defense companies for fighter jets, helicopters, and air defense systems.foxnews+1

'Trump Is Always Raging About Something'

Former US Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker sought to temper alarm over the president's outburst. Speaking to Euronews, Volker described Trump's anger over allies not joining the war in Iran as "an exaggeration" and said the president "is always raging about something."euronews+1

Under pressure from Trump, NATO leaders agreed at the 2025 summit in The Hague to invest 5 percent of GDP annually in defense and defense-related spending by 2035. The Ankara summit is expected to serve as a progress report on that commitment, with US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker framing it as a chance for allies to show they are "moving beyond commitments and returning NATO to its warfighting roots."instagram+2

Whether Trump's rhetoric represents a genuine shift toward disengagement or a familiar negotiating tactic will be tested when he arrives in the Turkish capital next week.