NATO Summit in Ankara: Trump and the Fragmented Utilitarian Approach

Donald Trump's concluding remarks at the Ankara summit revealed a stark reality: Washington no longer views alliances as a strategic shield as much as it sees them as a "paid protection network."

While NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte sought to project an image of "tremendous unity," Trump utilized the platform to settle bilateral scores and impose his own agenda.

The Syria File: A New "Partnership" and Promises to Lift Sanctions

In a side meeting described as historic, Trump received Syrian President Al-Julani (Ahmad al-Sharaa), praising what he termed the "stability of the country."

Trump's remarks sparked widespread controversy when he hinted at his intention to remove Syria from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list, stating: "I think I'll do it."

In a sarcastic comment regarding Al-Sharaa's apprehensions about being in Washington, Trump said:

"If Al-Sharaa had come to the capital a year and a half ago, he would have feared for his life. But now, I don't think he would be very worried," pointing to the "tough environment" he came from. This movement is accompanied by a growing role for "Abu Mohammad al-Julani" as an interlocutor, with intensive communications underway regarding security coordination aimed at controlling borders and reducing Iranian influence.

The Lebanon and Israel File: Promises of Withdrawal and Changing Rules of Engagement

On the Lebanese front, Trump issued a surprise statement predicting the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, contradicting recent statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trump confirmed the existence of a US-brokered "deal" under which areas would be handed over to the Lebanese Army, maintaining that Israel "wants to make this move." This development comes amid the stalling of the US-Iranian truce and an escalating pace of mutual strikes, making the Lebanese scene a testing ground for Damascus’s ability—driven by Trump—to play a "curbing" role against Hezbollah.

The Iran File: "End of the Truce" and Regional Escalation

The shadows of the US-Israeli war against Iran loomed over the sidelines of the summit.

With Trump announcing the end of the fragile truce with Tehran and threatening new strikes, Iran appears to be on the defensive. It is attempting to rearrange its influence cards in the Levant in anticipation of the upcoming phase, amid an internal division in Tehran between a "pragmatic" current seeking to avoid an all-out confrontation and a "hardline" current rejecting any concessions.

Other International Files:

▪️ Ukraine: A deal to license the local manufacturing of "Patriot" systems, while considering Kyiv's strikes deep into Russia a "necessary escalation" to pressure toward a settlement.

▪️ Spain: Trump described it as a "bad partner" for its refusal to support operations against Iran, announcing a halt to trade exchanges with it.

▪️ Greenland: Trump revived claims for control over the Danish territory, which was met with a firm rejection from Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

Conclusion:

Trump's claim of "a lot of love in the room" does not mask the deep fissures in the structure of international alliances.

While he redraws the maps of influence in the Levant through "deal-making diplomacy," the question remains: How long can an alliance of 32 countries endure under this approach based on unilateral bartering?