NATO’s Triumph Amid Trump’s Family‑Like Outbursts at Ankara Summit

Mark Rutte, the former Dutch prime minister now NATO Secretary‑General, told the BBC that the alliance was stronger than ever, even as U.S. President Donald Trump used the summit to vent frustration over Iran‑related military actions and berate nations like Spain.

Rutte likened Trump’s remarks to a “family argument” that bursts out when one member is smitten, but he insisted that the United States remains firmly committed to NATO. “It’s a bit like in a family: you never quarrel and then it bursts out,” Rutte explained. Trump, in turn, repeated his demand that the U.S. take control of Greenland and reiterated his notion that NATO had received little return on the “trillions” invested.

The Ankara summit sharpened focus on European defence spending, with Rutte noting that 5,000 aircraft have already flown on bases in Europe to support the Epic Fury operations that struck Iranian missile sites. Rutte highlighted the role of Nordic NATO members, which flank Russia’s Kola Peninsula nuclear submarine bases, acting as an early warning system for Washington.

He also underscored the need for European industrial capacity to match the threat posed by Russia’s missiles and drones, praising increased budget allocations since the previous Hague summit. “We have spent a quarter of a trillion dollars in two years, which is staggering,” Rutte said, urging further investment and continued support for Ukraine.

When asked whether NATO would be ready if Russia attacked a member state like Estonia in 2030, Rutte responded firmly: “We will be ready. We are defensive, and we will never attack another country. The adversary knows that if they try to attack us, we are ready.”