Trump Channels Putin, Threatens Spain, and Dismisses NATO at Summit

President Donald Trump openly echoed Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, threatened to sever ties with NATO ally Spain, and reiterated his desire to take Greenland from Denmark while expressing disdain for NATO itself.

“I’m not happy with NATO because of what they did with Greenland, and I’m not happy with NATO because of the fact that they didn’t want to help us with the number one state sponsor of terror, that’s Iran. They were unwilling to help us,” Trump complained to reporters just before meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. He claimed to have reached out to Germany, France, the U.K., and Italy, but expressed dissatisfaction with their responses.

In a rare moment of positivity regarding Ukraine, which dominated discussions at the NATO summit, Trump announced plans to allow Ukraine to manufacture its own Patriot anti-ballistic missile interceptors.

“Not surprised, but frustrated and disappointed that we have a president who cannot help himself but to destroy relations with some of our closest allies and undermine an alliance we have spent generations building,” said Jim Townsend, a former Defense Department official. He criticized Trump’s inability to grasp the damage he is causing.

Despite the chaos, some found a silver lining: Trump did not announce a complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Europe, a threat he had previously made.

“It was, all in all, a good day here in Ankara,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated after the closed-door meeting of NATO’s 32 heads of state.

Reports indicated that Trump reiterated his frustration over NATO members' refusal to join his and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s campaign against Iran but avoided revisiting other grievances like demanding Denmark hand over Greenland or cutting trade ties with Spain.

“NATO limited the damage and emerged intact,” said Doug Lute, a retired Army general and former U.S. ambassador to NATO. “For what it is worth, the joint declaration is quite solid.”

The joint statement expressed solidarity with Ukraine, which is enduring its fifth year of full-scale invasion by Putin, promising 70 million euros in military aid this year and at least as much next year.

Trump halted U.S. aid to Ukraine upon taking office in January 2025 but has allowed European allies to purchase weapons for transfer to Ukraine. His agreement for Ukraine to build Patriot interceptors marks another step in this direction.

“We’re going to give a license to you to make Patriots. That’s pretty cool, right? This way he can’t complain that we’re not giving them enough. Make them yourself,” he told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a photo op.

However, granting Ukraine a license to produce Patriot interceptors does not address its urgent need for defense against Russia’s frequent missile attacks. While Ukraine has developed capabilities against drones and slow-flying cruise missiles, it lacks defenses against ballistic missiles that travel at supersonic speeds.

Putin has intensified his use of such missiles as Ukraine has adapted its defenses against other threats, launching attacks on Kyiv and other cities that have resulted in numerous civilian casualties. Establishing a factory for Patriot interceptors could take over a year.

America’s allies have struggled to acquire Patriot interceptors due to high demand from Trump’s ongoing war against Iran, and Trump has shown little inclination to prioritize support for Ukraine.

On Wednesday, he again equated the actions of Ukraine—targeting military infrastructure—with Russia’s indiscriminate attacks on civilian areas throughout Ukraine.

“You have two kids in a park, and they don’t like each other, and they start fighting. Sometimes you have to let them fight. Let them see that it’s tough. Fighting is tough,” Trump remarked.

Trump even solicited questions on Putin’s behalf, stating he would speak with him later that day. He suggested Zelenskyy—targeted for assassination by Putin—should travel to Moscow for talks.

Zelenskyy responded: “It’s difficult. There are a lot of Ukrainian drones there. It’s dangerous.”

In an earlier tirade about the Spanish prime minister’s criticism of his Iran war, Trump declared his intention to cut all trade and tourism with Spain. “I don’t want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, please, including visits, OK? They’re hopeless. Bad people,” he said.

It remains uncertain if Trump realizes that Spain is part of the European Union trade bloc; cutting off Spain would likely necessitate cutting off all of Europe.

Trump attended the G7 meeting in Évian, France, last month without making such attacks, which some analysts attributed to French President Emmanuel Macron inviting him to dinner at Versailles after the summit. No such incentive awaited Trump at Wednesday’s summit.

NATO members and America’s traditional allies have sought to reduce reliance on the U.S. for trade and military security since Trump’s reelection in 2024. Many believed they could endure his first term without lasting damage; however, Trump’s return to power following his January 6 coup attempt has led to doubts about American commitment to democracy and a rules-based order.

In line with this strategy—and following advice from critics like Lute who view summits as platforms for Trump’s antics—NATO concluded its meeting without definitive plans for future gatherings.

This year’s statement ended with: “We look forward to our next meeting.”