Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States would give Ukraine a licence to manufacture Patriot air defence systems, a major boost for Kyiv as it seeks to counter Russian missile attacks in a war now in its fifth year. Speaking at a NATO summit in Turkiye, Trump also said he believed a deal to end the war could be near and that the US would work on “some kind of security package” for Ukraine.
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The summit also brought sharp exchanges on other fronts. While Trump struck a warmer tone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he criticised some NATO partners over Greenland, the Iran conflict and defence spending. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, meanwhile, praised Trump over increased allied defence spending and backed the latest US strikes on Iran.
Meeting Zelenskyy at the summit, Trump said, “We’ll give them the right to make Patriots. We’ll show them how to do it. I think they can produce them pretty quickly.” Patriot systems are costly, in high demand and take a long time to produce. Zelenskyy has for years sought more of them, and more recently a licence for Ukraine to make its own.
The meeting marked a clear shift from earlier encounters that had ended in acrimony. Trump praised Zelenskyy’s readiness to reach a deal to end the fighting, saying the Ukrainian leader had “done an amazing job” and “been very effective” in the war. “We’ve actually developed a good relationship. It’s hard to believe,” Trump said.
Trump was far less warm towards some NATO allies. He said he was unhappy with the alliance for pushing back against his efforts to take control of Greenland and for not supporting his war in Iran. As leaders from the 32-member alliance gathered, he again insisted that the United States should control Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory.
Before the summit, Trump said Greenland “is very important” for the US but not for Denmark, adding, “We need it for protection of the world, not just the United States.” Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen replied that her country was “ready to defend every inch of NATO including our own territory” in the event of an attack, and would rely on allies to honour their commitment to defend one another.
Trump also criticised some European countries for refusing to take part in the Iran campaign. He singled out Spain as “a terrible partner in NATO” and renewed threats to cut off trade. His criticism came as NATO’s European members and Canada have been trying to meet the higher defence spending targets he has demanded, while the US reduces troop numbers in Europe and asks the continent to take greater responsibility for its own security.
Rutte sought to calm tensions by giving Trump credit for increased defence spending by NATO allies. “Grab the win. It’s there,” Rutte told him on Wednesday. Rutte has spent considerable effort trying to keep Trump’s support for NATO and hold the summit together.
Ahead of the meeting, Rutte praised Trump for the overnight US strikes on Iran after Tehran struck three merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz. “I think what you did last night was absolutely necessary,” Rutte said. “It was a very strong response, and I’m with you on this.” The strikes, along with the revoking of a licence that had allowed Iran to sell its oil on global markets, highlighted the fragility of an interim deal meant to end months of fighting.
Trump said of the interim agreement with Iran, “For me, I think it’s over” – but added that he would allow talks to continue. “It’s just a waste of time dealing with them,” he said.
Rutte pointed to Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Denmark as countries investing more in defence, but said the Trump administration expects “the Europeans and Canadians will equalise their spending with the United States”. Last month, he travelled to Washington to praise the “Trump Trillion” – the USD 1.2 trillion that European allies and Canada have added to defence spending since Trump came to power in 2017.
As leaders gathered in Ankara, Rutte hosted what was described as a “big reveal” event to showcase planned deals linked to the increased spending, much of it set to go to US companies and create jobs for Americans. At last year’s summit, allies agreed to spend 5 per cent of gross domestic product on defence – 3.5 per cent on defence budgets and 1.5 per cent on infrastructure to move troops and equipment more quickly in a conflict.
However, figures released by NATO on Tuesday showed that Slovenia, Belgium, Spain and the Czech Republic have struggled to meet the alliance’s earlier spending target of 2 per cent of GDP. The Trump administration wants a leaner “NATO 3.0”, with Europe taking charge of its own security, including Ukraine, through conventional weapons, while the US continues to provide its nuclear umbrella. The Pentagon has begun a six-month review of the US military presence in Europe, leaving allies waiting for clarity on how far Trump may cut troop levels.
Zelenskyy, for his part, made a fresh appeal on Tuesday for Ukraine to join NATO. He said Ukraine’s armed forces are highly experienced and would strengthen the alliance’s defence capabilities. He highlighted Ukraine’s ability to adapt and strike deep inside Russia, and said its forces are “eliminating” an average of 30,000 Russian troops every month.
Some countries bordering Russia have also grown concerned that Moscow may be preparing a hybrid attack on Europe – combining conventional warfare with tactics such as cyberattacks – as President Vladimir Putin struggles to secure victory in Ukraine. Trump is also due to meet Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the former insurgent who led the offensive that removed Bashar Assad in December 2024 and who has won Trump’s backing as he tries to rebuild Syria and restore ties with the West.
Overall, the summit saw Trump promise Ukraine the right to make Patriot systems and strike a more positive tone with Zelenskyy, even as he reopened disputes with NATO allies over Greenland, Iran and burden-sharing, while Rutte worked to keep the focus on defence spending and alliance unity.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
