US strikes Iran as Trump meets NATO leaders in Turkey | AP News
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US strikes Iran as Trump meets with NATO leaders in Turkey
Follow the latest news on President Donald Trump and his administration | July 7, 2026
Edited By
BRIDGET BROWN, MICHAEL WARREN, CURTIS YEE and LUENA RODRIGUEZ-FEO VILEIRA
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year]
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Here’s what we’re following:
- President Donald Trump on Tuesday insisted that the United States should be incontrol of Greenlandrather than NATO ally Denmark. His comments came ahead of the annual NATO summit.
- The two-day summit in Ankara, Turkey, will showcase a series of military projects worth billions of dollars in an attempt to persuade Trump that they are making a stronger Europe for a stronger NATO.
- The U.S. military, meanwhile, launched a series of strikes against Iranian targetsearly Wednesday after Iran struck three ships in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday. The renewed attacks from both sidesthreaten the interim deal reached last month, with the U.S. and Iran both sayingthe strikes violate that initial agreement.
- Trump met with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Tuesday and later announced that the U.S. will lift sanctions on the nation that were issued after Ankara purchased a Russian missile defense system that led to the country being kicked out of the F-35 fighter jet program.
- Earlier in the day, NATO showcased a series of military projects worth billions of dollars — an investment that the alliance’s secretary-general, Mark Rutte, called “money well spent.” An energized Rutte was speaking to government ministers and defense industry officials at a forum billed as NATO’s “big reveal,” to the thrum of techno music and a slick video display.
US strikes expected to hit significantly more targets than prior retaliations, official says
By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN
The American military strikes against Iran will hit around eight times more targets than the previous round of retaliatory strikes that were conducted at the end of June, a U.S. official said
Both the strikes conducted Tuesday and two weeks ago were responding to Iranian attacks on merchant shipping near the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing military operation, said Iran hasn’t been listening so the U.S. is “turning up the volume.”
US strikes expected to go on for hours, official says
By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN
The American military strikes against Iran are expected to go on for hours and strike a variety of military sites and port facilities, U.S. officials said
One U.S. official said the military is targeting Iranian air defense systems, coastal surveillance systems, ground-to-air missiles as well as launch sites for anti-ship cruise missiles and drones as part of the strikes. Iranian port facilities are also being targeted, the official added
The second official said the strikes would likely last for hours
Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing military operation
JUST IN: US is hitting Iranian weapon launch sites, air defenses and more in strikes expected to last for hours, US officials say
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Iran condemns US strikes
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Iranian state media has reported the sound of explosions in Qeshm in the Strait of Hormuz and Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf
Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the earlier U.S. move to revoke a license that had authorized the sale of Iranian oil, saying in a statement that it violates the interim deal and that “the U.S. government bears responsibility for the consequences of this breach of commitment.”
Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, also said in a post on X that the new attacks by the U.S. are a violation of that agreement
US launches new strikes against Iranian targets
By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN
The U.S. military launched a series of strikes against Iranian targets early Wednesday after three merchant ships were struck in the waters off Oman
In a statement posted to social media, U.S. Central Command said American forces launched the strikes “to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping crewed by innocent civilians in an international waterway.”
“Iran’s demonstrated aggression was unwarranted, dangerous, and a clear violation of the ceasefire,” the statement said
JUST IN: US military says it’s launching strikes on Iran following Tehran’s attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
US Treasury revokes a general license authorizing the sale of Iranian oil
By FATIMA HUSSEIN
The Treasury did not immediately respond to an Associated Press inquiry on why the license was revoked Tuesday, though notice came after three tankers were hit in the latest attacks in the Strait of Hormuz
In June, Treasury issued a license that authorized the production, delivery and sale of Iranian oil, that would last through Aug. 21. U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the time said lengthy talks with senior Iranian officials in Switzerland created a “good foundation for a successful final deal” to end the Iran war
Justice Department alumni urge lawmakers to reject Blanche’s nomination
By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER
In a letter to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, more than 1,200 former Justice Department employees accused acting Attorney General Todd Blanche of instilling a “culture of fear” within the agency’s workforce
Blanche is expected to appear July 15 before the committee considering his nomination to become attorney general
Justice Department alumni pointed to the loss of roughly 16,000 employees through firings, resignations and voluntary departures. They wrote that “the consequences of Blanche’s attacks on DOJ’s apolitical workforce radiate beyond the halls of Main Justice, affecting the entire country.”
The letter was signed by lawyers who worked under both Republican and Democratic administrations
In a statement, the Justice Department said the signers included “partisan activists” and “multiple former disgruntled Biden administration officials,” some of whom were involved in the criminal cases against President Donald Trump. The department noted support Blanche has received from law enforcement groups including the Major Cities Chiefs Association
Protesters march peacefully against NATO in Istanbul
By SERRA YEDIKARDES
Thousands of protestors from leftist, pro-Palestinian and Kurdish parties in central Istanbul marched against the NATO summit being held in Ankara Tuesday, chanting, “Murderer, USA, get out of our country.”
“We are here to protest the hosting in Ankara — at a cost of millions of dollars — of NATO, an organization we regard as a massacre machine established to preserve global hegemony,” said Ali Gültekin, 21
People march during a demonstration against the NATO summit, in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Poster in the center reads in Turkish: “Murderer Trump. Get out of Turkey”. /Erdem Sahin)
Günçağ Aydın, 42, a spokesperson for the leftist Red Party, said that leftist groups faced intense pressure from the government ahead of the summit
“Hundreds of our friends have been detained, but we continue to speak out, saying that NATO is a coalition of what we regard as killers and imperialist powers,” Aydın insists
The protest ended peacefully and without arrests. Earlier Tuesday, police broke up a small demonstration in Ankara, where protests were banned during the NATO summit, and arrested about 20 people
NATO leaders dine on sea bass, beef, dumplings and baklava
By MICHELLE L. PRICE
The White House shared details of the menu for the dinner, which had a first course of flatbread and a honeycomb. It was followed by vegetables and yogurt, traditional dumplings and a choice of sea bass or beef
Dessert was Baklava with milk, a pistachio foam and traditional Turkish Maras ice cream
Trump arrives at NATO leaders’ dinner
By MICHELLE L. PRICE
Trump has returned to the Turkish presidential compound for a dinner for leaders of NATO members
Trump gave a thumbs-up as he walked the blue carpet past a military honor guard to meet Erdogan and his wife who waited at the top of some stairs for him
Trump shook their hands and spoke to them for a few minutes before posing for a photograph
He then continued speaking to Erdogan for a moment more before they went inside together
US establishes energy framework with Japan and Korea on sidelines of NATO summit
By FARNOUSH AMIRI
The trilateral cooperation agreement was agreed to by Secretary Marco Rubio and his Korean and Japanese counterparts on the margins of the summit to “advance our mutual security interests and paves the way for partner countries to meet their energy security needs,” the U.S. State Department announced in a press release Tuesday
The memorandum of understanding between the three countries is aimed at accelerating deployment of advanced nuclear reactors in other countries, initially focusing on the Indo-Pacific region
The release said the U.S. is also committing more than $10 million in new funding for a State Department program aimed at providing technical support to relevant countries
NATO leaders arrive for dinner hosted by Erdogan
By SUZAN FRASER
NATO leaders are arriving at the Turkish presidential compound for a dinner hosted by Erdogan
The leaders are walking along a turquoise‑colored carpet lined with soldiers dressed in historic military garments, before ascending steps where they are greeted by Erdogan and his wife, Emine
Four NATO allies could face strife over defense spending
By LORNE COOK
Slovenia, Belgium, Spain and the Czech Republic could be in hot water with the Trump administration after new NATO defense spending figures showed they’re struggling to meet the organization’s old target
NATO leaders agreed last year to invest 5% of GDP on defense by 2035 — 3.5% on core defense requirements and 1.5% on upgrading security related infrastructure like roads, bridges, ports and airports
The Trump administration is expecting a “first report card” to be handed in by European allies and Canada to demonstrate progress. It’s threatened to take unspecified action against those lacking a solid plan to make the grade
Some are still struggling to meet NATO’s old target of 2% of GDP. Slovenia is expected to fall short, with just 1.6%. Belgium, Spain and the Czech Republic are forecast to barely make 2%
How will Netanyahu react?
By STEVEN SLOAN, STEVE PEOPLES
Rahm Emanuel’s remarks could prompt a similarly fiery response from Benjamin Netanyahu, who famously once called the Democrat who had ambitions of being the first Jewish speaker of the U.S. House a “self-hating Jew.”
The prime minister faces his own battle for reelection in October, and may try to use a confrontation with Emanuel for political gain by appearing to stand strong in the face of international criticism
As for Democrats, Emanuel’s speed represents a particularly frontal strategy for possible presidential contenders gauging how to address the fallout from Israel’s war in Gaza and Netanyahu’s perceived tilt toward Trump‘s Republican Party
Emanuel, a longtime Israel supporter, tells AP he has a blunt message for Netanyahu
By STEVE PEOPLES, STEVEN SLOAN
Rahm Emanuel told The Associated Press in an interview from Tel Aviv ahead of his speech on Wednesday that he’s avoiding interactions with elected officials so as to not interfere with upcoming elections. Instead he’s visiting a hospital serving Israelis and Palestinians and meeting with the family of an Oct. 7 hostage
Emanuel said Israel’s continued military response to the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, has been “reckless and careless in the treatment of Palestinian life — not only the military campaign but using food and medicine as an instrument of your military goals.”
Asked whether Israel had committed genocide, the stalwart of Democratic centrists said the question should not be considered in isolation without also examining conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan
“I’m ready to have that discussion,” he said, “but I don’t think it should be politicized, and then dilute the power of what genocide means.”
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What is NATO’s Article 5?
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, left, receives applause from NATO members including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, center, and U.S. President Joe Biden during a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at the level of Heads of State and Government, with Sweden, at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Wednesday, July, 12, 2023. (Doug Mills/Pool
Article 5 is at the heart of the 32-member North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It states that an armed attack against one or more of the members shall be considered an attack against all members
That security guarantee is the reason previously neutral Finland and Sweden sought to join NATO and why Ukraine and other countries in Europe also want in. It has only been invoked once, in the wake of the Sept.11, 2001, terror attacks on the United States
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Turkey’s opposition leader criticizes Trump for not visiting Ataturk tomb
By ANDREW WILKS
Ozgur Ozel said Trump would be the only visiting U.S. president not to pay his respects at the mausoleum of Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
He said every visiting U.S. president since Eisenhower in 1959 had gone to the monument to honor Ataturk, who remains a revered figure in Turkey
Talking about Trump’s welcome, Ozel said the president should be greeted by children “holding pictures of the 165 girls killed in Iran” – a reference to an airstrike on a school at the start of the Iran war
Ozel was removed as head of the Republican People’s Party by court order last May. However, many believe the ruling was politically motivated and still consider him the de facto opposition leader
Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden did not visit Turkey but he did lay a wreath at Ataturk’s tomb as vice-president in 2011
Explosions rock Damascus as France’s Macron visits Syria
By OMAR ALBAM, GHAITH AL SAYED, KAREEM CHEYAHEB
It was the second blast to rock the capital in a few days, and a setback for the country’s new president as he welcomed his first visit from a western leader since ousting longtime dictator Bashar Assad. Emmanuel Macron was inside the presidential palace when the explosions happened. An official from the Elysee Palace said he was safe and that the meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa continued. (Produced by Luke Garratt)
The explosions in Syria’s capital on Tuesday injured at least 18 people, the interior ministry said, as France’s president met with his counterpart in a landmark visit. Both leaders later announced the reappointment of ambassadors, marking a major restoration of diplomatic ties after years of civil war
It was the second attack in Damascus in a week and a setback for President Ahmad al-Sharaa as he welcomed the first major Western leader to visit since the ouster of longtime dictator Bashar Assad in late 2024. But French President Emmanuel Macron was safe in the presidential palace when the explosions happened, and voiced support for the country’s new direction
“Nothing can smother the aspiration of Syrian women and men to live in a fully sovereign, safe, pluralistic, and united Syria,” Macron said on X hours later. Both he and Al-Sharaa will next appear in Ankara, Turkey for the NATO summit
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Three tankers hit in the Strait of Hormuz, British military says
By JON GAMBRELL
The British military now says three tankers were struck Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said a third ship was hit by a drone in the critical oil-shipping waterway, where two other tankers had been attacked earlier in the day
The third ship sustained minor damage, with no one injured, and continued on its way, the UKMTO said
Iran and the United States agreed as part of an interim deal to allow ships to pass without paying charges for 60 days. But Tehran insisted it must control the routes and later charge fees, which would upend decades of practice in the waterway
The U.S. and many Gulf Arab states say they will not agree to Iran charging for passage through the strait. An effort by Oman and a United Nations agency to launch a new route near Oman’s shore earlier sparked attacks across the Mideast
Security is tight in the Turkish capital
By LORNE COOK
Security is high in Ankara. Air defenses are on alert, and tens of thousands of police will be on duty
Neighborhoods around the summit site are closed to traffic, and some state workers have been given time off to help keep roads unclogged
Public gatherings are banned; however, Turkish police detained more than 20 protestors at a demonstration in central Ankara against the NATO summit on Tuesday
Erdogan’s government has prioritized security, and authorities have carried out raids on people allegedly linked to extremist groups ahead of the summit
▶ Read more
Trump repeats his insistence that the US should control Greenland
By LORNE COOKE
Trump says the semiautonomous island, which is part of NATO ally Denmark, is “an important part for the United States,” and that he does not intend to let Greenland be threatened by China and Russia. He repeated the false claim that it’s surrounded by Chinese and Russian ships
“That should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark,” Trump told reporters during a meeting with Erdogan
Of all Trump’s threats to NATO and its member countries, Trump’s repeated insistence that the U.S. should acquire Greenland has posed the greatest danger to the organization. NATO is founded on the principle that its 32 members will defend each other’s territory and not threaten to seize it
Trump says US will lift sanctions that prevented sales of F-35 jets to Turkey
By LORNE COOK, SUZAN FRASER
Trump said on Tuesday that the U.S. will lift sanctions on Turkey that were issued after Ankara purchased a Russian missile defense system that led to the country being kicked out of the F-35 fighter jet program
There are still a number of legal hurdles before Turkey could be fully admitted back to the U.S. program, but the removal of the sanctions — issued under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act — would help ease the process for Ankara to regain access to the F-35s, a top goal of Erdogan
“We’re going to be taking the sanctions off, OK?” Trump said in response to a question at the presidential palace in Ankara. He said Cabinet officials were working on the matter
Earlier, he said that the possibility of selling the F-35s to Turkey is “certainly something we will consider.”
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JUST IN: Trump says US to lift sanctions on Turkey that were meant to punish Ankara for purchasing Russian missile system
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Erdogan hopeful over US defense sales
By SUZAN FRASER
Erdogan expressed hope that the U.S. will sell F-35 planes to Turkey, saying the U.S. president always stands by his word
At a joint news conference with Trump, Erdogan also said the two leaders would take up the issue of the sale of jet engines to power Turkey’s domestically-produced KAAN fighter planes
He said Turkey expects Trump to “repeat the positive news” he previously gave about supporting Turkey’s defense projects
The British military says a second ship has been hit in the Strait of Hormuz
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center made the announcement Tuesday, hours after it said a tanker traveling off the coast of Oman in the straitwas struck by a projectile and caught fire
Iranian state television reported on the earlier attack, saying the liquefied natural gas tanker came under attack after ignoring warnings, while not directly claiming responsibility. Tehran has repeatedly declared that only its approved route through the strait is safe, and is suspected of attacking other ships that have tried to transit the strait close to the Omani shore
Talks between Iran and the U.S. appeared to be on hold until after the burial of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during the initial attacks by the U.S. and Israel that launched the war. Iranian mourners have called for the death of Trump
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NATO official dismisses fears of a Russian attack on alliance members
By ABBY SEWELL
A senior NATO official speaking on the sidelines of the summit in Ankara Tuesday said that despite some “reckless” actions by Russia, including airspace violations over Poland, Romania and Estonia, he believes the alliance has been successful in deterring Russia from any potential attack on a member country
“I see absolutely no indications whatsoever that Russia is interested in any sort of conflict with NATO,” the official said
He said Moscow is overstretched by its war in Ukraine and knows NATO would respond to any attack on a member
“I would say now that Russia is deterred, but Russia is deterred because of the actions that we are taking,” he said
Rahm Emanuel will assail Netanyahu in Tel Aviv speech as American politics shift against Israel
By STEVE PEOPLES, STEVEN SLOAN
While Trump is in Turkey demanding loyalty from NATO allies, a leading Democrat will be in Tel Aviv, directly accusing the president’s military partner of driving Israel into a “dead end.”
Potential presidential candidate Rahm Emanuel plans to denounce Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and call for an end to U.S. subsidies of Israel’s defense budget in a speech Wednesday at Tel Aviv University
“You’ve lost Europe,” Emanuel will say, according to remarks obtained by The Associated Press. Castigating Netanyahu for doing little to end the Iran war, he’ll note that “support for Israel is plummeting around the world.”
About 58% of Democrats say the U.S. is “too supportive” of Israel, according to a new survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, up from 45% in January 2024. Roughly half of Democrats believe Israel’s government has committed genocide against Palestinians during the war in Gaza, an accusation leveled by some human rights organizations and vehemently denied by Israel and the U.S. government
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Trump says he thinks Russia-Ukraine war will be settled ‘hopefully soon’
By MICHELLE L. PRICE
The U.S. leader was asked about his meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy scheduled for Wednesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit, and responded by saying he’s had great recent phone conversations with both the Ukrainian president and Russian President Vladimir Putin
“They both want to get it settled now,” he said
He added later that Erdogan is “helping us get it settled.”
Trump refreshes complaints against European allies
By COLLIN BINKLEY
At his bilateral meeting with Erdogan, Trump said he was testing European allies when he asked for their help with the Iran war
“Italy turned us down and Germany turned us down and France turned us down,” Trump said. “And that’s OK. But, you know, why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they’re not there for us?”
The complaint has been a central point of conflict between Trump and NATO, which he has described as a “paper tiger.”
Trump says he has great chemistry with Erdogan
By COLLIN BINKLEY
As they sat down for a bilateral meeting, Trump showered praise on Erdogan, saying they have a “very special relationship” that benefits both countries
Asked about what makes their relationship so strong, Trump said there’s “a chemistry that works between us.”
President Donald Trump gestures next to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the beginning of a bilateral meeting at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. /Alex Brandon)
“Sometimes you get along with the toughest people, like him,” Trump said, gesturing to Erdogan. “Sometimes you don’t get along with the weakest, most pathetic people.”
Trump says he’s going to consider selling F-35 jets to Turkey
By MICHELLE L. PRICE
The president was asked by a reporter as he met with Erdogan whether he’ll allow the sale of the American fighter jets to Turkey, which had been banned from the program after purchasing Russian missile defense systems
“It’s certainly something we will consider,” Trump said as he sat with his Turkish counterpart
He said that “Turkey has been in many ways much more loyal than other countries.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly urged the U.S. not to sell the jets to Turkey, saying it would upset the balance of power in the Middle East
Trump arrives at Erdogan’s presidential compound
By COLLIN BINKLEY
President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he arrives at the Bestepe Presidential Palace during a formal welcome for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. /Emrah Gurel, Pool)
The president was greeted by Erdogan and an honor guard flanking a turquoise carpet. Trump shook hands with Erdogan and patted his shoulder before they walked together toward the guard. The men paused and Trump saluted as the band began playing the Star Spangled Banner, accompanied by cannon fire
They continued down the carpet toward the presidential compound as a flyover left a trail of red, white and blue in the sky
Trump was scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Erdogan, a close ally who helped secure Trump’s presence at the two-day summit
FIFA praises World Cup referee who Trump claimed was ‘suspect’ after red card for Balogun
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
FIFA has defended the reputation of World Cup referee Raphael Claus in rare pushback on comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who questioned his integrity for sending off Folarin Balogun
Trump suggested on Monday at the White House, without elaborating, that the 46-year-old Brazilian was “a little bit suspect if you check his past.”
Trump set off a furor by successfully intervening with FIFA to ensure the United States forward could play against Belgium despite his red-card penalty. FIFA praised Claus, now working at his second World Cup, in a statement published before the U.S. lost 4-1 Monday night
FIFA praised Claus, who is working at his second World Cup, in a statement published before the U.S. 4-1 loss that sent Belgium to the quarterfinals
“Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and integrity,” FIFA said, calling Claus “one of the world’s leading professional referees and a valued member” of its team of World Cup match officials
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Zelenskyy reiterates call for Ukraine to join NATO
By LORNE COOK
Zelenskyy made a fresh appeal for Ukraine to be allowed to join NATO, saying that his country’s armed forces are highly experienced and resilient would only boost the alliance’s defense capabilities
“Ukraine belongs in NATO,” Zelenskyy said at a defense industry forum, near where NATO leaders were due to gather later on Tuesday
Zelenskyy highlighted Ukraine’s adaptability and its ability to strike deep inside Russia, hit oil refineries and other energy targets. He said that Ukraine’s armed forces are “eliminating” on average 30,000 Russian troops every month
“Do you believe it would be right to live outside NATO, a country and a people with this level of defense capability?” he said
Trump and Erdogan greet each other with arm squeezes
By MICHELLE L. PRICE
President Donald Trump walks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, upon arriving for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. /Alex Brandon)
The Turkish leader was waiting on the blue carpet for Trump as he descended from Air Force One. They shook hands and Trump squeezed Edrogan’s shoulder
Erdogan was wearing sunglasses as they posed for pictures in the bright sun
He then tapped and squeezed Trump’s arms, and they walked the carpet together, inspecting the Turkish troops, with Erdogan gently guiding Trump by the arms at times
They did not make comments to reporters but Trump could be heard speaking to Erdogan and a translator about the new airplane he’s using as Air Force One
____________Correction: A previous version of this post misidentified the woman with Erdogan
Ukraine seeks continued funding in war
By LORNE COOK
Another top agenda item is continued support to Ukraine, now in a fifth year of full-scale war with Russia. European allies and Canada are funding most of Ukraine’s needs, including paying for about 90% of the country’s air defenses
With European countries fearing what Moscow’s territorial ambitions might lie beyond Ukraine, leaders have described Kyiv as a bulwark against Russian advances
Trump is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday
NATO’s Trump whisperer is seeking to appease the US leader
By MICHELLE L. PRICE, WILL WEISSERT
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte laid on the flattery with Trump last month, pressing the case for a military alliance that the volatile U.S. leader has sharply criticized as the Pentagon reviews the size of the U.S. military footprint in Europe
Trump has renewed his threats to leave the 77-year-old alliance. But Rutte, who has become known as a Trump whisperer for his ability to charm the president, has taken on the now-familiar role of attempting to appease him anew
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The Netherlands announces more and smarter defense spending
By MIKE CORDER
The Dutch defense ministry says it is investing together with the United Kingdom in new amphibious transport vessels and with other NATO allies in replacing aging AWACS surveillance planes
The government announced the plans on the first day of the NATO summit in Ankara to underscore its commitment to ramping up defense spending
The ministry says the Dutch also are playing a leading role in a European initiative to co-produce and maintain American arms such as Stinger, Amraam, and PAC-3 missiles
Defense Minister Dilan Yesilgöz-Zegerius says the Netherlands and European allies “are investing much more in strengthening European defense” with extra money “but also by working together smarter.”
Trump arrives in Ankara
By SEUNG MIN KIM
Staff lay a carpet on the tarmac before President Donald Trump exits Air Force One upon arriving for the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. /Alex Brandon)
The president landed in Ankara on Tuesday soon after the transatlantic alliance announced billions of arms deals. The announcement was aimed at meeting Trump’s demand that allies spend more on Europe’s defense
Trump’s first stop is the presidential compound of Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a close ally to Trump who is hosting this year’s NATO summit
The two-day summit is forecast to focus on topics including the Russia-Ukraine war and increased defense spending by European allies
NATO summits are highly symbolic
By LORNE COOK
The 32 member countries of the world’s biggest military alliance will underline their unshakeable commitment to each other’s security, although the transatlantic bond has rarely seemed shakier. Still, the meeting is being organized around the theme of a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO
JUST IN: Trump arrives at NATO summit as the alliance works to appease him with billions in arms deals
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Trump insists on loyalty
By MICHELLE L. PRICE, WILL WEISSERT
Trump has repeatedly slammed NATO, arguing the U.S. carries more than its fair share of military spending
His grievances have been louder since the Iran war, as he has fumed over the fact that some member countries restricted the use of their bases to U.S. forces during the war and have not helped to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
Pressed last month on what key U.S. allies could do to get back on his good side, Trump responded, “Just be loyal.”
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German leader wants ‘signal of strength and unity’ in Ankara
By GEIR MOULSON
German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, center, attends a press conference with Minister-President of Bavaria and CSU Chairman Markus Söder, left, Federal Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Bärbel Bas, right and Federal Minister of Finance, Lars Klingbeil, in the garden of the Chancellery following the meeting of the coalition committee, in Berlin, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (Michael Kappeler/dpa
Chancellor Friedrich Merz stressed before leaving Berlin that his country has doubled its defense spending since 2022
He said that “we are not making this effort to do anyone a favor; we are making this effort because it is necessary for our defense, for our security.”
Merz said that “Russia remains a serious threat” and is “testing our determination every day.” He added that “it is all the more important that we send a signal of strength and unity in Ankara.”
Merz said: “This summit should send the message that we are building a more European NATO so that NATO can remain trans-Atlantic.”
Kremlin says it will keep a close watch of NATO summit
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV
Two men walk past the NATO logo during the NATO Defense Industry Forum at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. /Hussein Malla)
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow will closely watch the NATO summit in Ankara
Asked about Ukraine urging its Western allies to deliver air defense assets, Peskov said that Kyiv’s push for more weapons wouldn’t prevent Russia from reaching the goals of what the Kremlin calls its “special military operation.”
Asked about the prospects for reaching a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, Peskov told reporters that “we maintain contact with the Americanseer the situation onto a peaceful track will ultimately succeed.”
He reaffirmed that the hostilities could end once Kyiv “demonstrates goodwill and shows a readiness to make those important decisions that need to be made.”
Czech leaders divided over NATO spending
By KAREL JANICEK
The bitterly divided leaders of the Czech Republic travelled separately to Turkey to attend the NATO summit on Tuesday
Populist Prime Minister Andrej Babiš was flying with his Foreign Minister Petr Macinka and Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna, while President Petr Pavel followed them separately later
Babiš returned to power after his ANO, or YES, movement won big in an October election, forming a governing coalition whose agenda includes steering the country away from supporting Ukraine
The country’s budget for this year falls short of a NATO target for defense spending (less than 1.8% of GDP), despite pressure from the United States and repeated complaints from the president
Before his departure for Ankara on Tuesday, Babiš said the government would meet at least the minimum of 2% next year but no increase
Unlike the government, Pavel, a retired army general, is a staunch supporter of Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion
The government originally refused to include Pavel in the delegation for the summit and did it it only after an intervention from the Constitutional Court
Anti-NATO protestors detained in Ankara
By ANDREW WILKS
Turkish police detained more than 20 protestors at a demonstration in central Ankara against the NATO summit
Officers raised their riots shields to prevent media from filming and photographing the protest by supporters of left-wing political parties
A legal association said 22 students affiliated with the Turkish Workers’ Party and three lawyers had been detained
Turkish foreign minister says defense cooperation checks are liability
By ANDREW WILKS
Hakan Fidan has warned against restrictions on defense industry cooperation among NATO members on the opening day of the alliance’s summit in Ankara
In a social media post, he said trade barriers “undermine efficiency and slow response,” adding that “these constraints have become strategic liabilities.” The United States and several European countries have imposed restrictions on selling military and dual-use goods to Turkey in recent years
“European defense initiatives must remain fully inclusive of all NATO Allies,” Fidan said
Trump says World Cup referee’s red card call was ‘horrible’ but insists he left outcome to FIFA
By COLLIN BINKLEY, SEUNG MIN KIM
Trump on Monday took credit for getting FIFA to review a red card issued against the United States’ star forward Folarin Balogun at the World Cup but said he did not demand an outcome
“All I did was ask for a review,” Trump said when asked about it during an unrelated Oval Office event. “I didn’t say, ‘You have to do this.’”
Trump confirmed that he called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked for a second look at the punishment against Balogun in the United States’ 2-0 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina last week in Santa Clara, California, near San Francisco. But he said FIFA made the final call to lift Balogun’s mandatory one-game ban for a foul tackle, allowing him to play in Monday’s round of 16 match with Belgium in Seattle
FIFA’s decision to suspend the one-game ban was celebrated by many in the United States but brought condemnation in the international sports world, where some called it an outrageous intrusion. The Belgian soccer federation challenged Balogun’s eligibility for Monday’s match, and the UEFA soccer body in Europe called FIFA’s move “incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
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NATO unveils billions in arms deals to prove its firepower to Trump
By LORNE COOK, SUZAN FRASER, ABBY SEWELL
NATO on Tuesday showcased a series of military projects worth billions of dollars in an attempt to persuade President Donald Trump that U.S. allies are converting fresh defense spending into real firepower
“It’s money well spent,” an energized NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told government ministers and defense industry officials on the sidelines of a summit in Turkey. He was speaking at a defense industry forum billed as NATO’s “big reveal,” to the thrum of techno music and a slick video display
Trump, who is slated to arrive in Ankara later Tuesday, has branded NATO a “paper tiger” that would cease to function without American arms and leadership
NATO as an organization does not own any weapons — these are the property of the 32 member countries — but it does have a fleet of 14 AWACS early warning radar surveillance planes that are about 50 years old, along with some newer surveillance drones
A deal to replace the aging planes was announced Tuesday. Swedish manufacturer Saab will be supplying up to 10 new GlobalEye surveillance aircraft for a 10-nation consortium, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced
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