Trump Demands Halt to Trade with Spain and Reiterates Greenland Purchase Bid at NATO Summit

At the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump adopted an aggressive tone, declaring the Iran nuclear deal null and labeling Iran's leadership as "scoundrels." He also sharply criticized Spain, a NATO member, and reiterated his demand to acquire Greenland from Denmark, another NATO ally.

Trump condemned Spain's refusal to raise its defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2030, a target agreed upon by the other 31 NATO members. He called Spain a "terrible partner" and urged a complete halt to trade and visits with the country, stating, "We want nothing from them. Watch how they come running back." Experts noted that since trade with Spain occurs under the European Union umbrella, such a move would be difficult to implement. Spain quickly responded, affirming that its good relations with the U.S. would continue.

Regarding Greenland, Trump insisted the U.S. wants to purchase the island from Denmark, which he claimed values it less than the U.S. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted that NATO and the U.S. had agreed to increase American presence in the Arctic region gradually, but Trump emphasized the issue remains unresolved. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen firmly rejected any territorial concessions, backed by European allies.

Trump also criticized NATO itself, accusing other member states of poor behavior toward the U.S., especially during the recent Iran tensions, singling out Italy and the UK for criticism. Conversely, he praised Turkey as a more loyal ally. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed Trump warmly and expressed support for peace efforts in the Middle East, including a two-state solution and ending conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.

The summit thus opened with heightened tensions over defense spending, alliance commitments, and geopolitical disputes, setting a contentious tone for the ongoing discussions.