NATO considers US strikes on Iran 'necessary' and announces increase in defense spending

Image caption, Mark Rutte during a press conference on the sidelines of the NATO summit, Wednesday, July 8, 2026

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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the overnight strikes carried out by US forces on Iran as 'absolutely necessary.'

Rutte told reporters on the sidelines of the alliance's summit in Ankara on Wednesday: 'I think they were absolutely necessary, because when there is a ceasefire and Iran practically violates that ceasefire – we saw what happened yesterday with ships being attacked – I think it is absolutely necessary for the United States to respond strongly.'

Rutte also called on alliance members to reaffirm 'the necessity that Iran never possesses any nuclear capabilities.'

Rutte's remarks, according to alliance diplomats, are consistent with the content of the summit's expected final statement.

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Rutte added: 'The principle of freedom of navigation must be respected, ensuring the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.'

The United States launched strikes on more than 80 targets in Iran on Tuesday in response to Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Tehran to retaliate on Wednesday by announcing attacks on US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.

US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict had 'expired,' stressing his unwillingness to engage further with Tehran.

Increase in defense spending

On the second day of the summit, Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sought to bolster confidence in Washington's commitment to the military alliance, as member states prepared to meet US President Donald Trump at a pivotal summit in Ankara.

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Rutte told reporters before the main session began: 'There is a full commitment of the United States to NATO.'

He added: 'But there is also an expectation that Europeans and Canadians increase their spending to match the US level, which I consider completely fair.'

On the eve of the summit's main session, the alliance published its latest spending data for 2026, showing that baseline defense spending for Europe and Canada will rise by 11 percent this year to $634 billion, compared to $571 billion a year earlier.

In an effort to demonstrate their pledge announced last year to increase defense spending, NATO members revealed tens of billions of dollars in arms contracts before Trump's arrival.

Rutte said on Wednesday: 'Yesterday was a very successful day,' adding that alliance members 'are fulfilling their commitments' by moving to take more responsibility for defending the European continent against Russia.

He added: 'This is a big victory for the US president.'

The NATO summit began on Tuesday in Ankara, with member states unveiling broad defense investment pledges, including an initiative to spend $40 billion on drone capabilities.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said: 'NATO is rapidly expanding our capabilities to deploy and operate drones on a large scale. At the same time, we are building strong anti-drone defenses to detect, identify, and neutralize those drones.'

He added: 'Allied countries are investing more than $40 billion in counter-drone capabilities over the next five years,' in addition to planning to enhance operational training for soldiers.

'Greenland is not for sale'

Image caption, Danish Prime Minister stressed the need to respect Greenland's sovereignty and its people's right to self-determination

In addition to pressuring his NATO allies to increase defense spending, the US president renewed the dispute with Denmark over Greenland.

Trump told reporters during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday that control of Greenland should go to the United States, not Denmark, angering Denmark and Europe more broadly.

Greenland is a Danish territory with self-governance. It is the world's largest island, located in North America, on the shortest sea route between North America and Europe, and thus holds great strategic and military importance.

But Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed on the sidelines of the NATO summit on Wednesday that 'Greenland is not for sale,' stressing the need to respect its sovereignty and the right of its people to self-determination.

Frederiksen told reporters: 'I listened to the US president yesterday, and I think the US position on this issue is unfortunately very clear, and our position has also been clear from the beginning: Greenland is not for sale.'

She added: 'Of course, Greenland is not for sale, and we hope that everyone, including our allies, respects the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination.'

The Danish Prime Minister affirmed that Denmark and Greenland are sovereign, calling for respect for their territorial integrity, and said: 'We are sovereign countries, and we need everyone to respect our territorial integrity and sovereignty.'

Frederiksen also stressed her country's readiness 'to defend every inch of NATO territory, including Danish territory, in the event of any attack,' noting that Copenhagen at the same time relies on its NATO allies' commitment to the alliance's principle of collective defense.

Struggling efforts to end the war in Ukraine

President Trump sought to revive his struggling efforts to stop the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the NATO meeting, and is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday.

Trump said: 'I think both of them want to reach an agreement.'

Trump is scheduled to 'continue' talks with Putin after his meeting with Zelensky, according to a US official.

Europe and Canada are expected to pledge continued military support to Ukraine worth $80 billion annually in 2026 and 2027.

On Tuesday, the Ukrainian president appealed to his NATO allies to 'take decisive decisions' towards strengthening his country's air defense capabilities against Russian missile attacks.

Potential major deal

Image caption, Trump (right) met with Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit on Wednesday

US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his country would lift sanctions imposed on Turkey in 2020 for acquiring Russian air defense systems, and expressed his willingness to sell it F-35 fighter jets.