At the NATO summit in Ankara, Secretary General Mark Rutte told the BBC that former US President Donald Trump’s remarks on the alliance were “like a family argument” – a stark contrast to the generally upbeat tone of the meeting.
Trump had criticised NATO’s decision not to join his Iran‑related operation, while also voicing controversial positions on Greenland and Spain. Rutte argued that the alliance is stronger than ever, citing increased defence spending and Europe’s role as an early warning system against Russian threats.
During the summit, Rutte emphasized that the collective 32 member states were united in defence, and he expressed confidence that NATO would be ready to defend any member should future aggression emerge. The reference to a family dispute underscored the perceived division between Trump’s comments and the broader consensus of NATO leaders.
