Trump to attend ‘most important’ NATO summit in Ankara

US President Donald Trump will attend the NATO heads of state summit in Ankara on July 7‑8, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday. Rubio described the meeting as the “most important” in the alliance’s history because “there are some things here that need to be cleared up and fixed.” He added: “The United States is still in the NATO alliance, and we’ll be there,” but said the organisation needs “significant changes.”

Burden‑sharing and base access

Rubio reiterated that Western European nations have relied on the US security shield for decades, allowing them to fund “vast and robust” social safety nets while avoiding defence spending. He expressed frustration that some NATO allies denied the US use of their bases during the Iran war, forcing American tankers to refuel elsewhere. “In a time of conflict and crisis, where the United States had a need,” Rubio said, such lack of cooperation caused Trump’s “irritation” with the alliance. On Greenland, Rubio defended Trump’s interest, noting talks with Denmark and Greenland on collective missile defence: “It’s a lot easier to defend it when you have control and complete control of it.”