What happened in the opening day of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey
NATO arrived in Ankara with a message of unity, but President Trump's renewed attacks on European allies have once again laid bare the tensions challenging the alliance's future.
Transcript
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
NATO leaders, including President Trump, arrived in Turkey's capital, Ankara, today. Most European and other allies are spending more on defense and expanding their military capabilities, but President Trump's increasingly confrontational approach toward many NATO countries has forced a debate into the open - how NATO projects unity despite uncertainty about the U.S.'s commitment to the alliance. NPR's Hadeel Al-Shalchi reports from Ankara.
HADEEL AL-SHALCHI, BYLINE: At this year's summit in Ankara, there was one arrival everyone was bracing for.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: (Speaking Turkish).
UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: (Yelling, inaudible).
(SOUNDBITE OF MILITARY BAND MUSIC)
AL-SHALCHI: President Trump opened his visit with a few words of Turkish.
(SOUNDBITE OF FIGHTER JETS PASSING OVERHEAD)
AL-SHALCHI: He's the only leader who got the full ceremonial welcome, a flyover, a military band and a personal greeting from host President Erdogan. And as anticipated, it didn't take long before he showed his disquiet to his NATO alliance partners.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
TRUMP: I was very disappointed with NATO. And frankly, if it weren't held in Turkey, where my friend happens to be a very strong leader, a very strong person, it's possible that I wouldn't have attended.
AL-SHALCHI: Trump has long argued that NATO allies rely too heavily on the U.S. He says Europe isn't doing enough to help in his war in Iran. Allies have been reluctant to take part in efforts to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz or provide military support to the U.S.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
TRUMP: Italy turned us down. And Germany turned us down, and France turned us down. And it's OK. But, you know, why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they're not there for us? We've always been there for them.
AL-SHALCHI: So this week, allies are hoping to convey a message of unity and credibility. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte tried to set the tone of this year's summit with a soccer analogy.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MARK RUTTE: No team wins because of one brilliant player. Everyone matters. No one wins alone.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
AL-SHALCHI: With a glitzy video, Rutte announced billions in arms deals to prove to Trump NATO is serious.
TORREY TAUSSIG: Financially, European allies are stepping up.
AL-SHALCHI: Torrey Taussig is the director of the Atlantic Council's Transatlantic Security Initiative. She says while the spending increases are significant, allies are also grappling with questions over the future of the alliance.
TAUSSIG: My biggest concern is that it is the political confusion about how committed the United States is to this alliance that weakens fundamentally deterrence in the eyes of Moscow.
AL-SHALCHI: Taussig says that even though NATO is trying to prove its relevance to Trump, many allies are still wary.
TAUSSIG: It is unavoidable when you speak with allied officials, European officials that there is a crisis in confidence about whether the United States would be there in an Article 5 type contingent.
AL-SHALCHI: Taussig is referring to the NATO article that says that an armed attack against one or more of the allies is considered an attack against all. She says for this year's summit, allies are focused on one main goal.
TAUSSIG: This is what I would call a high-stakes summit with low expectations - very high stakes for where this alliance goes on delivering from the pledges of last year and also keeping the United States engaged and committed to the alliance. That means, for the purposes of this summit, keeping the president happy.
(SOUNDBITE OF MILITARY BAND MUSIC)
AL-SHALCHI: And that will be on leaders' minds as they gather for dinner tonight to the strains of a military band. The optics are of pageantry, alliance and solidarity. But the real test is whether President Trump shares that vision. Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Ankara.
Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
NATO held its opening summit day in Ankara with President Trump in attendance. Trump received ceremonial honors including a military flyover and greeting from President Erdogan. During the opening, Trump stated his disappointment with NATO and cited instances where Italy, Germany, and France declined to participate in U.S.-led operations in the Strait of Hormuz region. European allies have increased defense spending and announced new arms deals. NATO Secretary General Rutte used a team-sports analogy to frame collective strength. Analysis from the Atlantic Council noted that while European spending increases are measurable, allied officials express concerns about the credibility of U.S. Article 5 commitment and the political clarity of American engagement with the alliance.
NATO arrived in Ankara with a message of unity, but President Trump's renewed attacks on European allies have once again laid bare the tensions challenging the alliance's future.
Transcript
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
NATO leaders, including President Trump, arrived in Turkey's capital, Ankara, today. Most European and other allies are spending more on defense and expanding their military capabilities, but President Trump's increasingly confrontational approach toward many NATO countries has forced a debate into the open - how NATO projects unity despite uncertainty about the U.S.'s commitment to the alliance. NPR's Hadeel Al-Shalchi reports from Ankara.
HADEEL AL-SHALCHI, BYLINE: At this year's summit in Ankara, there was one arrival everyone was bracing for.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: (Speaking Turkish).
UNIDENTIFIED PEOPLE: (Yelling, inaudible).
(SOUNDBITE OF MILITARY BAND MUSIC)
AL-SHALCHI: President Trump opened his visit with a few words of Turkish.
(SOUNDBITE OF FIGHTER JETS PASSING OVERHEAD)
AL-SHALCHI: He's the only leader who got the full ceremonial welcome, a flyover, a military band and a personal greeting from host President Erdogan. And as anticipated, it didn't take long before he showed his disquiet to his NATO alliance partners.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
TRUMP: I was very disappointed with NATO. And frankly, if it weren't held in Turkey, where my friend happens to be a very strong leader, a very strong person, it's possible that I wouldn't have attended.
AL-SHALCHI: Trump has long argued that NATO allies rely too heavily on the U.S. He says Europe isn't doing enough to help in his war in Iran. Allies have been reluctant to take part in efforts to secure shipping through the Strait of Hormuz or provide military support to the U.S.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
TRUMP: Italy turned us down. And Germany turned us down, and France turned us down. And it's OK. But, you know, why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they're not there for us? We've always been there for them.
AL-SHALCHI: So this week, allies are hoping to convey a message of unity and credibility. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte tried to set the tone of this year's summit with a soccer analogy.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
MARK RUTTE: No team wins because of one brilliant player. Everyone matters. No one wins alone.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
AL-SHALCHI: With a glitzy video, Rutte announced billions in arms deals to prove to Trump NATO is serious.
TORREY TAUSSIG: Financially, European allies are stepping up.
AL-SHALCHI: Torrey Taussig is the director of the Atlantic Council's Transatlantic Security Initiative. She says while the spending increases are significant, allies are also grappling with questions over the future of the alliance.
TAUSSIG: My biggest concern is that it is the political confusion about how committed the United States is to this alliance that weakens fundamentally deterrence in the eyes of Moscow.
AL-SHALCHI: Taussig says that even though NATO is trying to prove its relevance to Trump, many allies are still wary.
TAUSSIG: It is unavoidable when you speak with allied officials, European officials that there is a crisis in confidence about whether the United States would be there in an Article 5 type contingent.
AL-SHALCHI: Taussig is referring to the NATO article that says that an armed attack against one or more of the allies is considered an attack against all. She says for this year's summit, allies are focused on one main goal.
TAUSSIG: This is what I would call a high-stakes summit with low expectations - very high stakes for where this alliance goes on delivering from the pledges of last year and also keeping the United States engaged and committed to the alliance. That means, for the purposes of this summit, keeping the president happy.
(SOUNDBITE OF MILITARY BAND MUSIC)
AL-SHALCHI: And that will be on leaders' minds as they gather for dinner tonight to the strains of a military band. The optics are of pageantry, alliance and solidarity. But the real test is whether President Trump shares that vision. Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR News, Ankara.
Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
NATO leaders, including President Trump, arrived in Ankara for a summit Trump received the only full ceremonial welcome including a military flyover and personal greeting from President Erdogan Trump stated he was very disappointed with NATO and suggested he might not have attended if not for the summit's location in Turkey Trump cited Italy, Germany, and France declining to participate in U.S. operations securing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz European allies have increased defense spending and NATO announced billions in arms deals NATO Secretary General Rutte used a soccer analogy stating 'No team wins because of one brilliant player' Trump's confrontational approach toward NATO countries has forced a debate about the alliance's future into the open The lack of political clarity about U.S. commitment fundamentally weakens deterrence in Moscow's eyes Many allied officials express crisis-level concerns about whether the United States would honor Article 5 commitments The summit's success depends significantly on keeping the president satisfied
- NATO leaders convened in Ankara for a summit where President Trump received full ceremonial honors and immediately expressed dissatisfaction with European defense contributions
- European allies have increased defense spending and announced billions in arms deals, but uncertainty about U.S. commitment to the alliance remains a central concern
- NATO Secretary General Rutte emphasized collective strength while officials acknowledge the summit's success depends partly on satisfying Trump's expectations