NATO Summit Ends with Article 5 Win, Uncertain Future
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- Trump endorsed NATO's Article 5 collective-defense clause at the Turkey summit, a reversal from his earlier doubt about US commitment that European leaders cast as a diplomatic win.
- Trump whipsawed between lambasting allies over defense spending and their refusal to back the US war with Iran, and telling reporters there was "tremendous love" and "a lot of unity" in the room at his closing press conference.
- Trump called Spain "a terrible partner" and demanded a full trade cutoff — "including visits" — citing its refusal to meet NATO spending targets and its opposition to the US-Israeli war with Iran.
- Trump revived his threat to seize Greenland, saying he could pull US troops from Europe unless given control of the island.
- The summit adjourned with no confirmed date or host for the next meeting, leaving Albania — tentatively slated to host in 2027 — "in limbo"; published reports said postponing or canceling the 2027 gathering was actively discussed.
- The US told allies it would not commit as many forces to the NATO force model as in the past and is reviewing both in-field troop levels and Washington's financial contribution to the alliance.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Canada has hit NATO's 2% of GDP defense-spending target and will keep increasing; Turkish President Erdogan gave leaders engraved pistols as gifts, and Canada's was transferred to the RCMP for decommissioning.
Why it matters: Allies secured the one thing they most feared losing — a public Trump endorsement of Article 5 — but the summit produced no concrete commitments on the harder questions: how many US troops stay in Europe, how much Washington funds the alliance, or when leaders reconvene. For the 31 other NATO members, the symbolic win papers over an unresolved operational and financial picture that shapes Europe's security posture for the remainder of Trump's term.
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