President Donald Trump achieved his goal at the previous NATO summit, where members largely agreed to increase their defense spending. As he meets leaders in Turkey this week, his objective is to ensure this commitment is upheld.
The swift response to Trump’s demand for NATO countries to allocate 5% of their annual GDP to defense over the next decade highlights the U.S. president’s impact on the alliance. Despite ongoing disputes with its members over issues such as the Iran conflict and personal disputes, NATO countries are steadily moving toward Trump’s spending target.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Matt Whitaker, expressed that Trump expects allies to act promptly to meet the 5% benchmark. Trump departed for Ankara on Monday evening, having expressed frustrations about the disparity between U.S. and other countries’ defense spending.
Last month, Mark Rutte, NATO’s secretary-general, attempted to appease Trump in an Oval Office meeting by presenting charts illustrating the increased spending since Trump took office.
Luke Coffey of the Hudson Institute called the summit in Ankara the “first report card” following last year’s summit.
If NATO leaders show a commitment to the spending targets, Trump may see this as a personal triumph. At the summit, Trump will meet Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy and discuss the ongoing conflict with Russia, which remains a significant concern.
The White House confirmed a meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy during this week’s summit. Additionally, Trump plans discussions with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who has expressed reluctance in expanding Syria’s role against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Trump’s schedule includes a private meeting with Turkish President Erdogan, the host of the summit. Despite the productive atmosphere at the G7 summit last month, Trump reignited tensions soon after returning to the U.S., particularly with leaders like British PM Keir Starmer and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.
A bipartisan group of senators will attend the summit, aiming to reinforce support for NATO and counterbalance Trump’s sometimes abrasive stance. Senator Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire emphasized the importance of maintaining strong relationships with NATO allies.
The summit coincides with the Trump administration’s advocacy for “NATO 3.0,” a vision where Europe assumes greater responsibility for its security, allowing the U.S. to focus elsewhere.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently announced a review of U.S. forces in Europe, an unexpected move for many NATO allies.
Shaheen criticized the NATO 3.0 concept for underestimating the threat posed by Russia to Europe and the U.S.
NATO’s goal for countries to spend 5% of their GDP on defense includes core spending and related expenses such as infrastructure. While many have pledged increased spending, reliance on U.S. defense persists, given NATO’s principle that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
Beyond spending commitments, NATO introduced “Arctic Sentry,” a military exercise addressing Russian and Chinese activities, responding to Trump’s interest in Greenland’s strategic security value.
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