NATO allies will showcase surging defense spending at a summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday, hoping to placate US President Donald Trump after his fury over Europe's response to the war with Iran. The two-day gathering at Turkey's presidential palace comes a year after NATO members pledged to ramp up security-related spending to five percent of GDP under pressure from the US leader.
Increased Defense Spending
NATO chief Mark Rutte insists European countries are 'delivering' on their promise by bolstering military budgets and taking more responsibility for the defense of their continent in the face of Russia. 'Just one year later, we already see transformational progress,' Rutte told journalists in Ankara on the eve of the summit. NATO has lined up headline-grabbing figures to impress Trump.
New Arms Deals
At an industry forum ahead of the main summit, leaders are set to unveil new arms deals worth tens of billions to show Trump they're delivering on their words. Canada announced on Monday that it had selected Germany's Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems to build its new fleet of submarines, a multi-billion-dollar program framed as part of a broader effort to deepen defense ties with European NATO allies.
Trump's Criticism
Trump, still smarting after European countries imposed restrictions on US forces using bases to attack Iran, has slammed allies for not moving fast enough. 'Ridiculous for the U.S.A. to continue along this one-sided path when the relationship is not reciprocal. They were not there for us!!!' Trump wrote on Truth Social last week.
European Naval Mission
Seeking to show willingness on Iran, European allies, spearheaded by France and Britain, have put together a potential naval mission to help in the Strait of Hormuz. Countries have shifted vessels closer to the region to be ready, but the situation remains volatile, and the Europeans want clarity on how a fragile US deal with Iran is panning out before sending in their navies.
Shift in Mindset
European nations will look to prove they're ready to play a greater role while also trying to keep Trump, and the vast might of the US military, as engaged as possible. 'All of this is evidence of a real shift in mindset,' Rutte said. 'This is NATO 3.0. A stronger Europe in a stronger NATO.' Beyond taking greater responsibility for their own defense, European countries have also taken over the support of Ukraine almost entirely as Trump has wound back US aid.
Support for Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky, who will attend the leaders dinner on Tuesday, will score a commitment from his European backers at NATO to keep at least 70 billion euros ($80 billion) of military aid flowing to Kyiv each year in both 2026 and 2027. Zelensky will look to convince Trump that Kyiv is turning the tide in the war and that he should pressure Moscow back into serious peace negotiations.
