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European leaders within NATO are trying on Wednesday at the summit in Ankara to convince American President Donald Trump to reaffirm his commitment to the military alliance, after the U.S. leader expressed again his dissatisfaction with the lack of support in his campaign in Iran and reopened the issue of Greenland, while also launching a new wave of attacks on Iran.
Upon arriving in the Turkish capital on Tuesday, Trump criticized allies for not supporting the U.S. in the war in Iran and stated that he could have boycotted the meeting if it weren't for his friendship with the host, President Tayyip Erdogan, writes Reuters.
Subsequently, the U.S. launched new military attacks on Iran and revoked a license that allowed Iran to sell oil, in response to attacks on three tankers. This was the latest blow to a fragile ceasefire agreement in a highly unpopular war in Europe.
Commenting on the new American attacks on Iran on Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that they were "absolutely necessary".
On Tuesday, NATO tried to demonstrate that European member states are responding to Trump's requests to invest more in their own defense and to rely less on the U.S., announcing a series of arms contracts worth at least 50 billion dollars.
Trump, who has harshly criticized NATO both in his first and second terms, expressed that he is "very disappointed" with the alliance and stated that the U.S. has not been "treated properly" during the American-Israeli war against Iran.
Trump accused European nations of not allowing American forces to use their airspace and bases during the war. European officials stated that they largely honored their commitments to American forces, despite not being consulted about a conflict that destabilized their economies.
He also threatened again that he would withdraw troops from Europe, while the President of Romania, Nicușor Dan, downplayed this risk.
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