{"id":1525,"date":"2026-07-08T04:38:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T04:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1525"},"modified":"2026-07-08T04:38:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T04:38:06","slug":"the-nato-summit-was-supposed-to-focus-on-defense-spending-trumps-strikes-on-iran-changed-that","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=1525","title":{"rendered":"The NATO summit was supposed to focus on defense spending. Trump\u2019s strikes on Iran changed that"},"content":{"rendered":"
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ANKARA, Turkey (AP) \u2014 President Donald Trump surprised NATO leaders he is meeting with in Turkey<\/span> by launching a series of strikes on Iran<\/span> late Tuesday and revoking a license that allowed Tehran to sell its oil on the world market, a major twist for a summit that had been aimed at showcasing how alliance members were stepping up spending on defense and focusing on support for Ukraine\u2019s war with Russia.<\/p>\n

Read more Tehran targets Bahrain and Kuwait after US strikes and limits Iran\u2019s oil sales over ship attacks<\/a><\/p>\n

The strikes were retaliation after three merchant ships were struck in the Strait of Hormuz<\/span>, and underscored the fragility of an interim deal to end months of fighting between the two countries. Trump launched the attacks shortly after leaving a dinner hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan where the leaders of the alliance\u2019s 32 member countries had gathered ahead of Wednesday\u2019s talks meant to focus on progress made toward meeting NATO\u2019s spending targets<\/span>.<\/p>\n

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Trump did not directly address the strikes Tuesday night. It is rare for U.S. presidents to launch military action while outside the U.S., though in 2011 former President Barack Obama authorized strikes in Libya while on a trip to Brazil.<\/p>\n

European allies and Canada had been wary that Trump might raise fresh grievances over the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which they were never consulted about. Trump had demanded \u201cloyalty\u201d and branded NATO a \u201cpaper tiger\u201d<\/span> after some allies refused to grant open access to their bases for U.S. forces to attack Iran.<\/p>\n

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On Tuesday, during a meeting with Erdogan, Trump said he had been testing NATO allies when he asked for their help with the Iran war. \u201cItaly turned us down and Germany turned us down and France turned us down,\u201d Trump said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s OK. But, you know, why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they\u2019re not there for us?\u201d<\/p>\n

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NATO leaders had been trying to show Trump how they were boosting defense<\/h2>\n

NATO summits are designed to be a show of unity aimed at deterring any potential adversary \u2014 a resolve more important than ever as Russia continues to wage war on Ukraine<\/span>, and concerns mount that other European countries could be targeted.<\/p>\n

In an attempt last month to mollify the U.S. leader, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte<\/span> went to Washington to hail the \u201cTrump Trillion\u201d \u2014 the $1.2 trillion that European allies and Canada have added to defense spending since Trump came to power in 2017.<\/p>\n

As leaders converged on Ankara, Rutte hosted a \u201cbig reveal\u201d event to showcase the many deals planned for that money \u2014 much of it to be spent on U.S. companies, creating thousands of jobs for Americans.<\/p>\n

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