Starmer insisted that Nato has emerged “stronger and more united” from its summit in Turkey, as ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston reports from Ankara
US President Donald Trump hailed a “tremendously successful” Nato summit on Wednesday, despite clashing with partners over defence spending and Greenland earlier in the day.
He had previously said he’d considered not going to the summit but changed his mind because it was being held in Turkey and said he has a good relationship with Turkish President Recep Erdogan.
Trump reopened old wounds as he arrived at the meeting of the 32 Nato leaders by insisting again that the US should control Greenland, a semiautonomous Danish territory.
He blasted some European countries for refusing to participate in the Iran campaign, singling out Spain as “a terrible partner in Nato” and renewing his threats to cut off trade.
Ahead of the summit, Trump said Greenland “is very important” for the US but not for Denmark, declaring, “We need it for protection of the world, not just the United States.”
But Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her country is “ready to defend every inch of Nato including our own territory” in the event of an attack, and would rely on Nato allies to honour their commitment to defend each other.
Trump’s criticisms have in the past drawn European countries closer together as they confront wars in Ukraine and Iran, a ballooning trade deficit with China, and threats from Russia.
But emerging from a closed-door meeting of Nato leaders, Trump later said, “There was a lot of love in that room, a lot of unity.”
Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte also sought to rein in the president’s criticism by giving him credit for recent increases in defence spending from Nato allies.
“Grab the win. It’s there,” Rutte told Trump on Wednesday.
Nato’s European members plus Canada have scrambled to meet the increased defence spending targets Trump has demanded, as the US draws down the number of troops it has in Europe and insists the continent take more responsibility for its own security.
Trump also said he will give a license to Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defence systems to help counter Russian missile attacks, a huge coup for Kyiv, which has repeatedly requested the technology.
At a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump praised the Ukrainian leader saying he has “done an amazing job” and “been very effective.”
“We’ve actually developed a good relationship. It’s hard to believe,” Trump said.
Last year, Zelenskyy was forced to cut short a trip to Washington after a public argument with Vice President JD Vance in the White House led to him being told he was no longer welcome.
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