European leaders are returning to their capitals after a NATO summit in Ankara that left them with more than just the engraved pistols and live ammunition gifted by host President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The gathering was dominated by US President Donald Trump's provocative statements, which have reignited tensions over Greenland and cast a shadow over the alliance's unity.
Trump threatened to cut trade with Spain over its refusal to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP, and announced that Ukraine would finally receive an export licence to produce Patriot interceptors after years of lobbying. But his most startling declaration was the revival of his ambition to acquire Greenland, the semi-autonomous Danish territory. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen acknowledged the seriousness of the threat, stating, "The US position is, unfortunately, very clear on this topic."
Former US National Security Adviser John Bolton dismissed Trump's comments as a political tactic. "He's trolling people," Bolton told Euronews. "Why does he talk about taking Greenland? Because it drives people crazy. That's what it's about."
Despite the theatrics, former NATO official Jamie Shea noted that Trump signed off on a communiqué reaffirming the US commitment to Article 5 collective defence, calling it "ironclad." Shea told Euronews' Europe Today that this official text was crucial for diplomats, even if it didn't make headlines. "These were the kind of things that the allies wanted to hear," he said.
EU Sanctions Package Stalls Over Fish and Oil
Back in Brussels, EU ambassadors are racing against a 15 July deadline to approve the 21st package of sanctions against Russia. Wednesday's meeting revealed deep divisions: Portugal and Germany are pushing back against a proposed ban on Russian cod and pollack, citing disproportionate impacts on their local industries. Meanwhile, Greece, Malta, and Cyprus are questioning a plan to delay the automatic review of the price cap on Russian oil until January 2026, which could raise the cap from $44 to over $60 per barrel.
France and Italy have also forced the Irish presidency to narrow a proposed entry ban on Russian soldiers to short-term visas and those directly involved in the invasion of Ukraine. An extraordinary Sunday session may be needed if Friday's meeting fails to resolve these issues.
Separately, eurozone finance ministers are meeting in Brussels to discuss Spain's proposal for a common borrowing mechanism worth up to €850 billion per year. Germany and the Netherlands remain firmly opposed to any form of common borrowing, setting the stage for a contentious debate.
In Strasbourg, the European Parliament is set to vote on a resolution condemning war crimes in El-Obeid, Sudan. A controversial section accuses the United Arab Emirates of fuelling the conflict with military and financial support, a claim that the parliament's right-leaning groups want removed. The vote is scheduled between 12 pm and 2 pm.
The NATO summit also saw lighter moments, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre donning national team shirts ahead of a World Cup quarterfinal. But the underlying message from Ankara is clear: Europe must take its own defence seriously, even as Trump's unpredictable diplomacy continues to test the alliance.
