Trump headed to NATO summit in sour mood

Trump, who has never shown much enthusiasm for US promises of support for Europe's defense, has become even more skeptical over the past 12 months, claiming that America's long-standing allies failed to support him when he needed their help after the outbreak of the war in Iran, according to CNN.

He has never explicitly ruled out attempting to leave NATO and has continually questioned its value to the US, which he believes ensures Europe's security.

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Trump has threatened to seize Greenland from another NATO member and periodically expressed respect for Putin, who some European officials fear may be planning operations on NATO territory.

All of this has created a tense atmosphere surrounding the Ankara summit, which Trump himself has said he is attending with great reluctance.

During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte last month, he noted that he was only going because the summit was being hosted in the Turkish capital by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whom he considers a friend.

Trump and his team were quietly made aware that refusing to attend the summit would be disrespectful to Erdogan.

European leaders hope to conclude the Ankara meeting without major conflict, planning new defense commitments to appease Trump's anger. Rutte also attempted to smooth over any differences during his June visit to the White House.

However, in anxious private conversations last week, many officials noted they were unsure whether the summit would proceed smoothly, given the US president's gloomy mood.

Behind closed doors, Trump angrily complained about NATO's lack of support, and this rhetoric has leaked into his public remarks.

Trump's dispute with European leaders did not derail the G7 summit in France last month. On the contrary, Trump—encouraged by positive progress in the Iran talks—appeared to be on good terms even with those colleagues he had harshly criticized in previous months.

However, shortly after leaving, he reignited his dispute with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who he claimed "begged" him for a photo opportunity.

Meloni accused Trump of fabricating the story, but instead of defusing the tension, he declared on Sunday that he wanted a "restraining order" against her.

One US official noted that the strained relationship between the two once-friendly leaders adds another layer of uncertainty to the summit.

Officials are hoping that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's tactic of flattering Trump, which worked last year in The Hague, will be successful this year as well.

However, for many European officials, this seems a distant hope.

Photo: armenpress.am.

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