Trump blasts Spain, renews Greenland bid at NATO summit
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- Trump declared the Iran ceasefire "over" at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8, 2026, blasting allies who failed to back his campaign against Tehran
- Trump singled out Spain as a "wasted cause" and ordered Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cut off trade over Madrid's defense spending; Spain said it would respond "calmly and normally"
- Trump renewed his demand for Greenland, calling it "very important for the United States, but it's not important for Denmark"; Denmark's PM Mette Frederiksen replied: "Greenland is, of course, not for sale"
- NATO published figures showing core European defense spending rose 11% to $634 billion in 2026 (up from $571 billion), with allies unveiling tens of billions in new arms contracts
- Europe and Canada are set to pledge €70 billion ($80 billion) annually for Ukraine military support in both 2026 and 2027
- Trump told President Erdogan he would consider selling Turkey F-35 fighter jets and rolling back sanctions, after Ankara was booted from the F-35 program in 2019 over a Russian defense purchase
Why it matters: Trump's simultaneous attacks on Spain, Denmark, and his own Iran ceasefire signal that the transatlantic alliance's cohesion is fraying even as European members meet NATO's defense spending demands — with Europe and Canada committing $80 billion a year for Ukraine and Trump separately dangling F-35 access to keep Erdogan onside.
