During a meeting with journalists at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump discussed a wide range of topics, from the Caucasus and NATO to the Nobel Prize and Iran and Venezuela, while marking the first anniversary of his return to power. He referred to the Caucasus as "Putin's territory" and expressed a series of sharp and contradictory views on the future of the alliance, the role of international organizations, and U.S. policy in various regions.
The editorial reports that U.S. President Donald Trump stated during his speech that he has done the most work to defend NATO and raised questions about whether the alliance would defend the U.S. He stated, "We will defend NATO. I am just asking if they will defend us." In response to a question about the UN, Trump said, "The UN must continue because its potential is great," while also denying the idea that the Peace Council, which he initiated, would replace the organization. He emphasized that his relationship with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is "very good," but that they "become a bit tougher when I'm not around."
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he has lost respect for Norway and claimed that the country plays a decisive role in the management of the Nobel Peace Prize. He stated, "Norway runs the whole process, don't let anyone tell you otherwise." Regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump said, "Russia is not ready when Ukraine is ready, and Russia is ready when Ukraine is not." In response to a question about acquiring Greenland, he replied, "You will learn about it," and reacted to statements by the island's residents against the U.S. by saying, "When I talk to them directly, I'm sure they'll be very happy."
U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he is against the plan to sell the Chagos Islands and that those territories should be preserved. In his remarks about Syria, he said he has "done a good job" and characterized Ahmed al-Sharani as a "very hardworking and strong person." Trump also emphasized that "the worst terrorists are there and they are being kept under control." Regarding the Kurds, he stated that "they have been given large sums of money, serious opportunities including oil, and they are mainly operating for themselves."
U.S. President Donald Trump said he would have a "very important phone call" with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and specifically noted that he "loves him very much." He announced that "50 million barrels of oil were extracted from Venezuela in four days" and that "many political prisoners were released" in that country. On the topic of Iran, he claimed that "837 people were planned to be executed, but this decision was later abandoned" and stated that he "cannot say what will happen in the future." When asked about the Panama Canal, Trump said, "I don't want to say that. Kind of."
U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his speech by saying, "I think God is very pleased with the work I've done," and added regarding NATO: "Sometimes NATO is good, sometimes it's exaggerated. Without the U.S., NATO is not very strong." These statements are considered significant enough to generate new discussions on both U.S. foreign policy priorities and transatlantic relations.