Key facts
- European leaders convened at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
- US President Donald Trump made controversial remarks regarding Greenland and defense spending.
- Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen asserted Greenland's sovereignty.
- EU finance ministers are debating a Spanish proposal for common borrowing.
- The EU is working to finalize a 21st package of sanctions against Russia.
- Concerns exist among member states regarding specific sanctions and the price cap on Russian oil.
European leaders are returning from a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where they were met with pronouncements from US President Donald Trump that overshadowed discussions on defense spending and alliance cohesion. Trump's renewed claims on Greenland, a territory of Denmark, prompted a firm response from Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who stated the island is not for sale. Trump also threatened trade with Spain over its defense spending and made remarks about Iran.
Despite the headline-grabbing statements, former NATO official Jamie Shea noted that Trump signed a communiqué reaffirming NATO's Article 5 collective defense commitment, a point of reassurance for allies. Shea also indicated Trump showed satisfaction that his message on defense spending had been heard.
In parallel, EU finance ministers are convening in Brussels to discuss Spain's proposal for a common borrowing mechanism of up to €850 billion annually, a plan facing opposition from countries like Germany and the Netherlands. Meanwhile, EU ambassadors are reportedly considering an extraordinary Sunday session to finalize the 21st package of sanctions against Russia, as disagreements persist. Portugal and Germany are concerned about a proposed ban on Russian cod and pollack, while Greece, Malta, and Cyprus are questioning the review timeline for the price cap on Russian oil.
The European Parliament is also set to vote on a resolution condemning war crimes in Sudan, with a controversial section alleging foreign actors, particularly the UAE, are fueling the conflict. Additionally, the EU plans to revise its Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) in 2027 to broaden its scope and cover non-EU issuers, partly in response to evolving US policy under Trump.