ANKARA — U.S. President Donald Trump privately assured NATO leaders that the United States intends to remain a member of the alliance during a closed-door meeting at the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the discussions.
The private remarks contrasted with several public statements Trump made earlier in the day regarding defense spending, Spain, Iran, and Greenland.
According to the source, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, Trump told NATO leaders, "We want to remain with you."
The source also said Trump told allied leaders that the United States is prepared to continue selling weapons to NATO member countries regardless of how those weapons are ultimately used.
The White House did not immediately comment on Trump's remarks during the private meeting.
Different Tone Behind Closed Doors
During the closed-door session, Trump did not repeat several issues that had featured prominently in his public comments earlier on Wednesday.
According to the source, he did not renew his criticism of NATO member Spain, did not discuss the termination of an interim ceasefire arrangement with Iran, and did not raise the issue of Greenland, which has previously caused disagreements within the alliance.
The meeting brought together leaders of NATO member states as part of the NATO summit in Ankara, where discussions focused on collective security, defense spending, and other strategic issues.
Public Remarks Earlier in the Day
Before the private leaders' session, Trump publicly criticized Spain over its defense spending and its position on the conflict involving Iran. He described Spain as a "terrible partner" and said he had instructed U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to halt trade ties with the country.
Trump also said earlier that an interim ceasefire understanding with Iran was "over" and indicated that additional U.S. military strikes could take place later on Wednesday.
In separate remarks, he again stated that Greenland should be under U.S. control because of its strategic importance, an issue that has previously created tensions between the United States and Denmark, a NATO ally.
Defense Spending Remains a Key Summit Issue
Defense spending remained one of the central topics at the Ankara summit. Trump has repeatedly argued that the United States carries a disproportionate share of NATO's defense burden and has called on European allies to increase their military spending.
NATO leaders have continued discussions on strengthening the alliance's defense capabilities and increasing investment in military readiness as member states work to address shared security challenges.
The summit continues with further meetings among alliance leaders on regional security, defense cooperation, and future NATO priorities.
Source: reuters
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