ANKARA, Turkey – President Donald Trump renewed his call for the United States to control Greenland during the NATO summit in Ankara on Tuesday, reopening tensions with alliance member Denmark even as NATO unveiled new multinational defense projects aimed at demonstrating increased military investment and addressing long-standing U.S. demands for greater burden sharing.
Speaking alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trump described Greenland as strategically important and repeated the false claim that the island is surrounded by Chinese and Russian ships. He said the territory should be controlled by the United States rather than Denmark.
The remarks came as NATO leaders sought to project unity and strengthen the alliance through new defense initiatives, while also responding to persistent U.S. criticism that European allies have failed to spend enough on their own security.
Trump moves to lift Turkey sanctions
Trump also announced that the United States would remove sanctions imposed on Turkey after Ankara’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile defense system in 2019, a decision that led to Turkey’s removal from the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program.
The sanctions were imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. While legal restrictions remain before Turkey could fully rejoin the F-35 program, lifting the sanctions would remove one of the principal obstacles.
“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off, OK?” Trump said, adding that Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were working on the issue.
Trump said selling F-35 aircraft to Turkey was “something certainly we’d consider,” describing Turkey as “much more loyal than other countries that we think would be loyal.”
Erdogan welcomed the announcement and expressed confidence that the United States would eventually approve the sale, saying Trump has consistently honored his commitments.
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The leaders highlighted their close relationship during an elaborate welcoming ceremony featuring mounted military units and aircraft releasing red, white and blue smoke over Ankara.
Asked about their relationship, Trump said there was “a chemistry that works between us,” adding that “Sometimes you get along with the toughest people, like him.”
F-35 proposal faces opposition
Any effort to restore Turkey’s access to the F-35 program is expected to face resistance.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had urged Trump not to approve fighter jet sales to Turkey, warning that doing so would threaten Israel’s security.
“This is not a force for peace and stability,” Netanyahu said during an interview with CNN. “When you give them that power, you’re going to see aggression in its wake.”
Some U.S. lawmakers also oppose restoring Turkey’s access to the aircraft while the country continues to possess the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system. Existing U.S. law continues to restrict F-35 sales under those circumstances.
NATO highlights new defense investments
Earlier in the day, NATO announced a series of multinational defense projects worth tens of billions of dollars, although alliance officials did not provide specific values during the presentation.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte described the investments as “money well spent” while opening a defense industry forum designed to showcase the alliance’s expanding military capabilities.
Among the initiatives announced, Swedish defense manufacturer Saab will provide up to 10 GlobalEye airborne surveillance aircraft to a consortium of 10 NATO countries, replacing aging AWACS early-warning aircraft that have served for about five decades.
Representatives from 15 countries also announced a joint acquisition of Airbus aerial refueling and transport aircraft, while Rutte unveiled a separate four-country program to purchase up to five Triton surveillance drones.
Some of the projects will be financed through a European Union defense lending program backed by up to $170 billion raised on capital markets.
Ukraine renews membership appeal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used the summit to renew his appeal for Ukraine to join NATO, arguing that his country’s military experience would strengthen the alliance.
He pointed to Ukraine’s ability to strike targets deep inside Russia, including energy infrastructure, and said Ukrainian forces eliminate an average of 30,000 Russian troops each month.
“Frankly we take no pride in this,” Zelenskyy said, describing the conflict as a war “we did not seek but one we are forced to fight.”
Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet Trump on Wednesday during the summit.
Concerns remain among several European governments that Russia could expand hybrid operations against NATO members through cyberattacks and other non-conventional tactics.
A senior NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russia had engaged in what were described as reckless actions, including airspace violations involving Poland, Romania and Estonia, but maintained that the alliance had successfully deterred any direct attack against member states.
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
Topics: NATO | Donald Trump | Greenland | Turkey | Defense Spending | Ukraine | European Security | Military Alliance
