But this only triggers Trump to go again and say Greenland is \u201cvery important for the US, but it\u2019s not important for Denmark\u201d (that\u2019s not true).<\/p>\n
He then goes on a rant about the second world war and Nazis in Denmark, before coming back to say he is \u201cvery unhappy with Nato<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Rutte comes back with over-the-top praise for Trump, which makes the US president go \u201cthat\u2019s why I like him.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n The formal session is now finally getting under way.<\/p>\n We should get a few brief speeches and then they will move on to shouting at each other discussing the issues of particular importance behind the closed doors.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n As they gather for the opening session, it looks like the leaders got personalised pens as a gift from the hosts, Turkey.<\/p>\n Cute.<\/p>\n A pen with the name of British prime minister Keir Starmer, on the day of a meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) during the Nato leaders’ summit in Ankara, Turkey. Photograph: Yves Herman\/ReutersA pen with the name of Spanish prime minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez, on the day of a meeting of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) during the NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara, Turkey. Photograph: Yves Herman\/ReutersShare<\/a>Madrid downplaying Trump’s renewed threats to cut trade with Spain in Madrid<\/p>\n Madrid is downplaying Trump\u2019s renewed threat to cut all trade with Spain.<\/p>\n No more handshakes. Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett\/Reuters<\/p>\n Spanish government sources said they were greeting the US president\u2019s latest broadside calmly, adding:<\/p>\n \u201cOur country maintains an excellent social, cultural, and economic relationship with the US, and we have no intention of changing that.\u201d<\/p>\n They also suggested people would do well to reflect on three things:<\/p>\n \u201cOne, that the US has a trade surplus with Spain (meaning it benefits more from this relationship than we do). Two, that the EU is a trading union in which no member state can be singled out (as the commission itself has emphasised on several occasions). And three, that economic ties are forged by private companies, not governments. The bilateral relationship between the US and Spain is beneficial for both countries, both in the commercial and defence spheres.\u201d<\/p>\n And let\u2019s remember that we\u2019ve been here before<\/a>. In March, Trump threatened to cut all trade with Spain after it refused the US permission to use jointly operated bases in southern Spain to continue its attacks in Iran.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Not much to report on from the arrivals, but it\u2019s worth noting that France\u2019s Emmanuel Macron is back to wearing his aviators, even indoors.<\/p>\n When he did that first in Davos earlier this year, we were told it was due to a broken blood vessel in his eye. His cool look attracted lots of attention, and a deluge of new orders for the makers of his glasses.<\/p>\n He has been wearing them again for about a week now. Could it be that the eye problem is now back?<\/p>\n Turkish president Tayyip Erdo\u011fan and NATO secretary general Mark Rutte welcome French president Emmanuel Macron at a Nato leaders’ summit in Ankara, Turkey. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst\/Reuters<\/p>\n Elsewhere in Nato<\/a> fashion news, Albania\u2019s Edi Rama is wearing his trademark snow white sneakers.<\/p>\n Nato secretary general Mark Rutte and Albanian prime minister Edi Rama shake hands, as Turkey\u2019s President Tayyip Erdogan looks on, at a Nato leaders’ summit in Ankara, Turkey. Photograph: \u00dcmit Bekta\u015f\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n If you want some help with who is who, you can look at this family photo from last night.<\/p>\n Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan and his wife, Emine Erdogan, pose for a family photo with participants during a reception hosted at the Presidential Complex in honor of heads of state and government and their spouses attending the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in Ankara, Turkey. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/p>\n At the first glance, it looks like all the other family photos you have seen over the years, but there is a small little nerdy nugget here: if you look at the second row, you have Czech representatives \u2026 on both flanks.<\/p>\n The Czech prime minister, Andrej Babi\u0161, is on the far left, and the country\u2019s president, Petr Pavel, on the far right.<\/p>\n It is a consequence of an unresolved competence dispute between the two, which saw the country\u2019s constitutional tribunal intervene last month, ordering the government to allow Pavel to take part, in line with previous precedents.<\/p>\n The dispute is expected to be properly settled with a longer hearing later this year.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Leaders arrive for official welcome as Nato summit in Ankara gets underway<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the leaders are now arriving for the official welcome ceremony, getting a handshake from Rutte and Erdo\u011fan<\/p>\n If you want to play the game of guessing who is who \u2013 Sweden\u2019s Ulf Kristersson and Greece\u2019s Kyriakos Mitsotakis were the last two just now \u2013 you can watch it live here:<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s comments on Spain \u2013 including his somewhat theatrical demand to cut all trade with Madrid \u2013 are particularly interesting.<\/p>\n But he has done it so many times before, but not much actually happened.<\/p>\n He said it first in March, when Spain pointedly refused to back his Iran war, prompting an angry response from the European Commission, which pointed out that you can\u2019t really cut off trade with one specific EU country (Europe Live, 4 March<\/a>).<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump is not in a mood to hold back – snap analysis<\/p>\n Arriving in Ankara, European leaders were probably resigned to the fact that Donald Trump<\/a> would say something difficult during this summit, but he is clearly even trying to hold back this morning.<\/p>\n US president Donald Trump meets with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte on the sidelines of Nato meeting at the Bestepe Presidential complex, in Ankara, Turkey. Photograph: Alex Brandon\/AP<\/p>\n He has powerfully reiterated his frustration with Nato, pointedly criticising an array of countries \u2013 with Spain, the UK and Italy getting the most stick \u2013 before repeating his demand to take control of Greenland and calling it \u201ca big problem.\u201d<\/p>\n Ouch.<\/p>\n This will not make the subsequent leaders\u2019 meeting any easier.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And that ends their short briefing, with Trump saying he will be back later, and Rutte desperately throwing in that he will also do a press conference if anyone is interested in it please.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Trump also heaps praise on Turkey\u2019s Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan, praising the Turkish military might, and, amusingly, out of nowhere praises China, too.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>‘As far as I am concerned, it’s over,’ Trump says of Iran memorandum of understanding<\/p>\n On Iran, Trump says the memorandum of understanding with Iran is \u201cover,\u201d because \u201cI do not want to deal with them any more, they are scum.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey are sick people, they are vicious, violent people.\u201d\\<\/p>\n He then adds:<\/p>\n \u201cAs far as I am concerned, it\u2019s just a waste of time dealing with them. They are liars. \u2026 There is something wrong with them. They are cuckoo. As far as I am concerned, it is over.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.23 EDT<\/p>\n Greenland ‘is very important for US, but not important for Denmark,’ Trump says<\/p>\n Rutte says he understands Trump\u2019s frustrations, but insists these are \u201cisolated\u201d cases, with many European countries helping out. He very softly pushes back on some specific countries that Trump named earlier, including Germany and France.<\/p>\n Trump comes back with pointed criticism of the UK which \u201cwould not let us use the island for two weeks,\u201d and Italy being \u201cvery bad.\u201d<\/p>\n But Rutte says that Trump \u201ceven got Spain to pay 2%.\u201d<\/p>\n On Greenland<\/a>, Rutte says the pair agreed at Davos to increase US military presence there, and he pledges to \u201cmake sure that deal is step by step being implemented.\u201d<\/p>\n But this only triggers Trump to go again and say Greenland is \u201cvery important for the US, but it\u2019s not important for Denmark\u201d (that\u2019s not true).<\/p>\n He then goes on a rant about the second world war and Nazis in Denmark, before coming back to say he is \u201cvery unhappy with Nato<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Rutte comes back with over-the-top praise for Trump, which makes the US president go \u201cthat\u2019s why I like him.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Nato ‘have not treated us right,’ ‘very upset’ Trump says, as he repeats Greenland is ‘big problem for us’<\/p>\n Trump also says \u201cGreenland is a big problem for us,\u201d as he laments that the US is spending so much money \u201cto protect these countries from Russia,\u201d but doesn\u2019t get anything in return.<\/p>\n He says Nato<\/a> countries \u201chave not treated us right,\u201d and the US has \u201cbeen treated unfairly; we pay disproportionately.\u201d<\/p>\n He says only some smaller countries wanted to help with Iran, because \u201cthey are the most vulnerable\u201d on Russia, and understand what is at stake.<\/p>\n \u201cI am very upset with Nato that we pay far, far too much,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Trump says he is not happy with Nato; says Spain is ‘terrible partner,’ tells officials to ‘cut all trade with Spain’<\/p>\n Trump repeats that he is \u201cnot happy with Nato because of what they did with Greenland\u201d and they refusal to help with Iran.<\/p>\n He says he spoke to several countries who didn\u2019t help.<\/p>\n But he particularly lashes out against Spain, saying he \u201cdoes not want to do anything\u201d with Spain, as he instructs his officials to \u201ccut all trade with Spain.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSpain is a terrible partner in Nato. They don\u2019t participate, they don\u2019t pay, I don\u2019t want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, including visits. We don\u2019t want anything. Watch them come running back, oh, they will come running back.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Trump is now speaking, meeting with Nato\u2019s Rutte.<\/p>\n He says they had \u201csome great meetings\u201d last night, particularly praising the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan.<\/p>\n Speaking about Nato summit, he says \u201csomething has been determined, and some haven\u2019t frankly.\u201d God knows what that means.<\/p>\n He briefly turns to Iran, he says they are \u201cvery dangerous\u201d and \u201csick\u201d for \u201cshooting rockets at ships, and so we hit them very hard last night.\u201d<\/p>\n He says the Iranians are \u201cdirty players,\u201d who \u201cgo after everyone, probably including me,\u201d as he calls them \u201cscum\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are evil people,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Nato leaders meet in Ankara – live stream<\/p>\n As the official programme is about to start in Ankara, you can follow the summit with us here:<\/p>\n But I will also obviously bring you all the latest here, so don\u2019t feel you have to watch it. I will make sure you don\u2019t miss a thing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Ankara summit ‘about implementation, getting things done,’ Nato’s Rutte says<\/p>\n Arriving early for the summit, Nato\u2019s Rutte said the meeting was \u201cabout implementation, about getting it done\u201d after last year\u2019s push to increase defence spending.<\/p>\n Nato secretary general Mark Rutte arrives on the second day of the Nato summit in Turkey. Photograph: ANP\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n He said that European allies and Canada were \u201cstepping up\u201d with more money, more jobs, and more capacity, but there is still more to be done.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you look at it from the United States perspective, you will have European allies which are much more capable, with the US, to work together in Nato to keep one billion people safe,\u201d he said, repeatedly praising Trump for pushing Europe to do more.<\/p>\n Rutte also said the meeting was about reiterating the alliance\u2019s support for Ukraine, expecting the leaders to agree on \u201ca strong commitment to keep supporting Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n He said he expected the leaders to \u201cacknowledge collectively that Russia is the long-term threat\u201d to Nato.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s see how it all unfolds with grumpy Trump in the audience though. But Rutte insisted the US president was still \u201ccompletely committed\u201d to the alliance, despite his comments last night suggesting otherwise.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.02 EDT<\/p>\n Morning opening: What could possibly go wrong? Nato leaders are meeting in Ankara, Turkey today for what was meant to be a \u201cTrump-proof\u201d summit: short and sweet, with little space for any drama or outbursts from the notoriously unpredictable US president.<\/p>\n Yeah, good luck with that.<\/p>\n Nato secretary general Mark Rutte makes a statement to the press ahead of the main session of the North Atlantic Council Meeting in Ankara, Turkey. Photograph: Anadolu\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Even before the summit proper began, Trump lashed out against several Nato allies saying he was \u201cvery disappointed\u201d that \u201cthey were not there\u201d for the US on Iran, threatened to pull out US troops from Europe, and repeated his claim that Greenland<\/a> should be controlled by the US, not Denmark.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a good start.<\/p>\n Denmark\u2019s Mette Frederiksen was forced to say this morning that her country was \u201cready to defend\u201d Greenland if needed, reiterating the territory was \u201cnot for sale.\u201d<\/p>\n Take a deep breath. Photograph: Marek Ladzinski\/ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Expect more of the same today, as Trump is due to show up shortly, accompanied by secretary general Mark Rutte, who has the impossible job of keeping him on side.<\/p>\n The formal welcome ceremony gets under way shortly at 10:45am Turkish time (that\u2019s 8:45am UK time, and 9:45am CEST), where we will get all sorts of official photos.<\/p>\n The proper session starts at 11.15 (9:15am UK), and will last only for a few hours. We are then going to hear from leaders about how well (or not) it went.<\/p>\n I will bring you all the latest here.<\/p>\n It\u2019s Wednesday, 8 July 2026, it\u2019s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.<\/p>\n Good morning.<\/p>\n![\"World](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2048.jpg\")
World leaders gather in Turkey for NATO summit – watch live<\/p>\n![\"Sam](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Sam_Jones.png\")
Sam Jones<\/p>\nWorld leaders gather in Turkey for NATO summit – watch liveShare<\/a>Trump’s theatrical threat to cut off all trade with Spain is not new – snap analysis<\/p>\nWorld leaders gather in Turkey for NATO summit – watch live<\/p>\n![\"Jakub](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783502710_16_Jakub_Krupa.png\")
Jakub Krupa<\/p>\n