[Video belows.] President Trump sharply criticized several of America’s NATO allies on Tuesday as he arrived in Turkey for the alliance’s annual summit, using the occasion to praise Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan while accusing key European nations of failing to stand with the United States when it mattered.

Trump received an elaborate state welcome upon landing in Ankara, where Erdoğan personally greeted him on the runway before a mounted horseback escort accompanied the presidential motorcade through the capital.

Speaking to reporters after arriving at Erdoğan’s presidential complex, Trump made clear that his respect for the Turkish leader was a major reason he chose to attend the summit.

“I was very disappointed with NATO, and frankly if [the summit] weren’t held in Turkey, where my friend happens to be a very strong leader… it’s possible that I wouldn’t have attended,” Trump said.

The president showered Erdoğan with praise while directing criticism at several of NATO’s most influential European members. After Air Force One touched down in Ankara, horsemen carrying both American and Turkish flags rode alongside the presidential limousine as it traveled toward the palace.

During the welcoming ceremony, Trump even greeted the Turkish honor guard in their own language, offering a phrase meaning “hello, soldiers,” before walking past historical reenactors dressed in period military uniforms and displaying weapons from different eras of Turkish history.

Erdoğan, visibly emphasizing his warm relationship with the American president, held onto Trump’s arm while escorting him across a bright blue ceremonial carpet. The Turkish leader has been seeking to strengthen ties with Washington, including efforts to revive sales of F-35 fighter jets and reinforce Turkey’s standing as one of America’s closest regional partners.

Trump credited Turkey for its role during the recent confrontation with Iran, but sharply criticized Britain, Germany, France, and Italy, accusing them of refusing to allow their bases to be used in strikes against Iran and of failing to assist efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. He complained that “we weren’t treated well.”

“We didn’t need any help at all and in a way I was testing people. I was testing to see whether or not they’d be there,” the president added, referencing the issue just months after warning that the United States could reconsider its commitment to NATO.

“Italy turned us down, and Germany turned us down, and France turned us down. And that’s OK. But why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars and they’re not there for us? We’ve always been there for them.”

Despite Trump’s harsh rhetoric, it remains uncertain how his frustrations will influence discussions at the NATO summit. According to U.S. officials, one of his primary objectives is to push alliance members to significantly increase defense spending by making last year’s proposed target of 5% of GDP a binding commitment.

While taking questions from reporters, Trump also revived his longstanding call for the United States to take control of Greenland, suggesting that Washington could even reconsider its military presence across Europe if its concerns continue to be ignored.

“Well, that’s what hurt my relationship with NATO,” the president said of the controversy.

Trump argued that Greenland holds enormous strategic value for the United States while questioning Denmark’s stewardship of the territory.

“Greenland doesn’t help Denmark, Denmark doesn’t really spend money to help Greenland, but it’s an important part for the United States. And it’s surrounded by Chinese ships and Russian ships,” he said. “That should be controlled by the United States, not by Denmark.

“And when they wouldn’t go along with it, and with all the money we spend to help them with Russia — and we don’t have to spend any money, we could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe, because as you probably noticed, Europe is a very different place than it was 20 years ago,” Trump added.

The president concluded with another warning to European governments, arguing that their policies on immigration and energy threaten the continent’s future.

“And they better be careful with immigration and energy — if they aren’t careful with those two things, you’re not going to have a Europe anymore.”

{Matzav.com}