ANKARA, Turkey (AP) 鈥� NATO鈥檚 in Turkey on Wednesday had threatened to go off the rails even before U.S. President Donald Trump and his counterparts sat down to work. But the leaders renewed their vow to defend each other should any of them come under attack.
It came despite of old Trump criticism toward U.S. allies that seemed to put his commitment in doubt. In the end, Trump told reporters, 鈥淭here was a lot of love in that room. A lot of unity.”
“We鈥檝e had a tremendous time and I think a great success,” Trump said later at a news conference.
In a declaration, the leaders said their pledge to of NATO鈥檚 treaty is 鈥渋ronclad.鈥� They said that 鈥渁n attack on one is an attack on all.鈥�
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said U.S. allies 鈥渨armly welcomed President Trump鈥檚 leadership.鈥� It jarred after Trump had insisted his America should take control of , a semiautonomous part of ally Denmark.
鈥淭he message from this summit is simple. NATO delivers,鈥� Rutte said.
Here are some takeaways from the summit.
Iran strikes and a possible NATO role
Most of the time, U.S. military strikes are ordered up while the president is close to home.
So Trump鈥檚 decision to authorize retaliatory shortly after leaving a NATO leaders鈥� dinner was unusual, and underscored a beef he has with the alliance.
Trump has complained bitterly that allies didn鈥檛 help him keep the Strait of Hormuz open.
Intriguingly, Rutte refused to rule out a future role for the alliance in the war.
鈥淥bviously Iran is outside NATO territory,鈥� Rutte said. He added: 鈥淚f helpful, NATO is always willing to play a role. But first now, let鈥檚 see what happens over the coming days and weeks.鈥� It鈥檚 something likely to please Trump.
NATO prides itself as a defensive alliance focused on protecting the transatlantic area. Its last venture outside, into Afghanistan, ended in chaos and allies are reluctant to get drawn into any other war.
Let them have Patriots, and perhaps F-35s
Trump said the U.S. will give a license for its to be made overseas for Ukraine to counter Russian missile attacks 鈥� a huge coup for Ukraine, which sorely needs the technology for a war now in its fifth year.
鈥淲e鈥檒l give them the right to . We鈥檒l show them how to do it,鈥� Trump said as he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 鈥淚 think they can produce them pretty quickly.鈥�
Patriots are expensive, in high demand and take a long time to produce. Zelenskyy has for years been asking for more, and recently for a license so that Ukraine can manufacture its own, and faster.
In an uplifting moment for the summit host, Trump announced that the U.S. was prepared to lift sanctions on Turkey, opening the way for the possible sale of F-35 jets to the country, despite objections from Israel.
“I haven鈥檛 totally made up my mind,鈥� he said.
Ankara purchased Russian missile defense systems in 2019 and was of the F-35 program.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has developed a close relationship with Trump, gave a thumbs-up after an interpreter relayed the news.
Good news for Ukraine; a softer Trump tone and a big loan
Beyond the Patriot announcement, Trump dropped his usual critical tone with Zelenskyy and praised his willingness to reach a deal on ending the .
Trump said the Ukrainian president has 鈥渄one an amazing job鈥� and 鈥渂een very effective鈥� in the war.
鈥淲e鈥檝e actually developed a good relationship. It鈥檚 hard to believe,鈥� Trump said.
NATO leaders, meanwhile, agreed on a 70 billion euro ($80 billion) package of military support for Ukraine both this year and in 2027.
The figure involves 30 billion euros each year from a European Union for Ukraine plus 40 billion euros from NATO allies. The Trump administration has all but stopped U.S. spending on Ukraine, and the United States will not take part.
NATO diplomats say that most of the 40 billion euros for 2026 has already been raised.
More cash and defense deals, and a stronger Europe
The meeting was marked by Rutte鈥檚 high-energy sales pitch to Trump. The former Dutch prime minister estimated that European allies and Canada would spend almost $300 billion more on defense this year and last.
At a 鈥渂ig reveal鈥� , backed by thumping techno music and slick videos, Rutte hailed the 鈥渢ens of billions鈥� of dollars that were being spent on weapons and military equipment contracts.
鈥淚 would argue that without you in this chair, this would not have happened,鈥� Rutte told Trump in a tete-a-tete just before the meeting began. 鈥淕rab the win. It鈥檚 there.鈥� Trump appears to have done so.
In their summit declaration, the leaders marked the start of a major transformation at the world鈥檚 biggest military alliance, saying that they are 鈥渂uilding the future: a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO.鈥�
Mystery surrounds NATO鈥檚 next summit
Albania was left wondering when, and perhaps even whether, it will host NATO鈥檚 next summit.
The Balkans country had been due to host one in 2027, but instead of referencing that rendezvous as they usually do, the leaders only said: 鈥淲e look forward to our next meeting.鈥�
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, a former professional basketball player, is generally well liked by his fellow leaders, but some NATO allies have cooled on the idea of holding a summit in Albania given his country鈥檚 low rate of defense spending.
Others want to avoid another potentially divisive meeting with Trump. Rutte said that Albania would be the venue, “but of course we still have to decide on an exact time.鈥�
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Associated Press writers Seung Min Kim in Ankara, Turkey, and Michelle L. Price and Collin Binkley in Washington contributed to this report.
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