Meeks Issues Statement Following NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey 
 
Washington, DC – Representative Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement after the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey:  

“I’m encouraged that, despite President Trump’s best efforts to derail it, the NATO Summit produced some positive outcomes. European allies continue to step up, strengthening their commitments to the Alliance and to Ukraine. I also expect the president to follow through on his promise to allow Ukraine to produce PATRIOT missiles, which are crucial to Ukraine’s defense against the constant barrage of Russian attacks.  

“Unfortunately, President Trump’s conduct throughout the summit reinforces why his leadership weakens the United States on the world stage. Rather than addressing rising threats to the alliance from Russia, China, and others, he spoke admiringly of dictators like Putin and Xi. Instead of pressing Erdogan to give up the Russian S-400 system, he announced the lifting of sanctions and the eventual sale of F-35s without any concrete conditions. At a moment that demanded unity and resolve, the President instead alienated allies: threatened to cut off trade with Spain, and rambled obsessively about taking over Greenland. While Trump serves as president, he will always serve as a roadblock to NATO reaching its full potential.”