Key facts
- Former US Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker described President Donald Trump's anger at allies over the war in Iran as an "exaggeration".
- Volker believes Trump will refrain from embarrassing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara.
- Trump has criticized NATO allies for not supporting the US and Israel in their joint war with Iran.
- Spain and Italy denied access to bases, and France denied airspace for flights carrying weapons for Iran.
- Trump previously announced the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany after a public dispute with German Chancellor Frederich Merz.
- Trump has publicly stated that the US's relationship with NATO is "ridiculous" and "one-sided" because allies were not supportive.
- Trump confirmed his attendance at the Ankara summit is out of respect for President Erdoğan.
Kurt Volker, former US Ambassador to NATO and Special Representative to Ukraine, stated that President Donald Trump's criticisms of NATO allies for not joining the war in Iran are an "exaggeration." Volker told Euronews that while Trump is "always raging about something," he is unlikely to cause significant disruption at the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara out of respect for the host, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Trump has recently lambasted NATO allies for their refusal to support the US and Israel in their joint war with Iran, accusing them of abandoning their obligations. Spain and Italy reportedly denied access to military bases, and France refused airspace for flights carrying weapons to Iran. In May, Trump had a public disagreement with German Chancellor Frederich Merz over the war's strategy, leading Trump to announce the withdrawal of 5,000 US troops from Germany and call European partners "cowards."
Volker argued that the administration's claim that Europe "wasn't there for us" is an exaggeration because allies were not consulted about the war in Iran. He noted that requests for base and airspace access were made, and the US did not inform allies of its plans to attack Iran before complaining about their lack of participation.
Despite these tensions, Trump confirmed he would attend the Ankara summit, stating it was out of respect for President Erdoğan. He indicated he might not have attended if the summit were held elsewhere. Trump has frequently criticized allies for insufficient defense spending, referring to them as "free riders."