President Trump is set to attend the NATO summit in Ankara with a clear agenda to reinforce American leadership by securing billions in arms sales and compelling European allies to increase their military spending. This move comes amid tensions sparked by recent conflicts involving Iran and disputes over allied access to key military facilities.
Last year, NATO leaders agreed under Trump’s pressure to a goal of dedicating 5% of their GDP to defense by 2035. This target includes allocating 3.5% to core military capabilities and 1.5% toward broader security initiatives, such as critical infrastructure protection and defense innovation. Officials now seek to transform this pledge from a non-binding aspiration into a firm commitment.
U.S. officials expect the summit will spotlight new arms-sale announcements worth billions of dollars. Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who famously dubbed Trump “Daddy” during the previous summit, aim to hold European countries accountable for their defense obligations, emphasizing that “Daddy isn’t going anywhere.”
The administration has highlighted disparities in defense spending among NATO members. Countries like Poland and the Nordic and Baltic states already lead in meeting spending targets, while Germany is projected to reach 5% by 2029. However, many allies lag significantly behind, prompting demands for immediate action to raise their military budgets.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker underlined that while allies have collectively pledged nearly $139 billion in defense spending—about half for American-made weapons and equipment—the summit calls for more equitable and timely contributions. The focus extends beyond raw spending to ensuring that investments meet NATO’s strategic needs.