During a private meeting at the NATO summit in Ankara, President Donald Trump conveyed to allied leaders that he wants the United States to remain part of the alliance, according to a source familiar with the discussions. The President is expected to address the media following the NATO gathering on Wednesday afternoon.
Despite having publicly criticized allies in the past, Trump took a more reserved approach in closed-door conversations. He reiterated the U.S. readiness to continue arms sales to partners, regardless of their intended use, the source indicated.
In his remarks to NATO leaders, Trump was quoted saying, “We want to stay alongside you.” Notably, he refrained from reiterating his criticisms of Spain, a fellow NATO ally, and did not mention the temporary peace agreement with Iran during the summit discussions. He also avoided the contentious issue of Greenland, which has previously caused tensions within the bloc.
Earlier, the American leader had ordered a suspension of trade relations with Spain due to defense spending concerns and the ongoing situation in Iran.
