WASHINGTON – In a significant moment for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), President Donald Trump successfully influenced alliance members to increase their defense spending commitments during last year’s summit. This week, as he meets with leaders in Turkey, his primary mission is to ensure adherence to that pledge.
The urgency with which many NATO countries are embracing Trump’s call to allocate 5% of their annual gross domestic product (GDP) towards defense over the next decade illustrates the extent to which the U.S. president has reshaped the alliance. This change comes even as he continues to engage in disputes with member countries over issues such as the Iran war, his controversial comments regarding Greenland, and various personal disagreements.
Matt Whitaker, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, emphasized this priority: “President Trump fully expects that all allies will step up immediately and get on the path to 5% and do it with urgency.”
As Trump departs for the summit, he has been vocal about the disproportionate defense spending by the U.S. compared to its NATO allies. This sentiment was echoed by Mark Rutte, NATO’s secretary-general, who previously sought to appease Trump by presenting data illustrating the increase in defense budgets across member nations since 2017, coining it “The Trump Trillion.”
According to Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, the Ankara summit acts as a critical assessment of NATO members’ progress since last year’s meeting. He stated, “If NATO members play their cards right — if the leaders show up demonstrating a commitment and a reasonable plan to meet these spending targets — then it’ll allow President Trump to take a victory lap.”
In addition to defense spending, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is poised to be a focal point during the summit. Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reinforcing the U.S. commitment to support Ukraine amid its ongoing struggle with Russia.
Moreover, Trump plans to engage in discussions with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, although the specifics of this meeting remain unclear. This comes at a time when Trump has hinted at the need for Syria to take a more active role in countering Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanon, a notion met with skepticism by al-Sharaa.
On the sidelines, Trump is expected to confer with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is considered a close ally. However, no bilateral meetings with other leaders are on Trump’s agenda, signaling a potential return to controversial rhetoric following the positive engagements at the recent G7 summit.
Despite the optimism expressed by some leaders, Trump has reignited past conflicts, including derogatory comments about British opposition leader Keir Starmer and a controversial claim regarding Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which prompted sharp rebukes from her office.
A bipartisan congressional delegation is also participating in the summit, aiming to reaffirm the importance of NATO and its role in U.S. national security. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., leading the delegation, noted the necessity of fostering relationships within the alliance: “They are our best allies, they are our best trading partners, they are critical to our national security, to our economic success, and we need to encourage those relationships.”
The summit also marks a pivotal moment as Trump’s administration advocates for a “NATO 3.0” framework, envisioning a shift towards European nations assuming greater responsibility for their defense. This concept was articulated by Elbridge Colby, a U.S. undersecretary of defense, during a recent NATO defense ministers’ meeting.
However, concerns regarding European reliance on U.S. military support persist. While NATO allies are increasing their defense budgets, experts assert that many countries remain dependent on U.S. forces for protection in the event of an attack.
“This is the reality for most Europeans,” remarked Liana Fix, a senior fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations. She noted that despite initiatives to bolster their military capabilities, many European nations still lack the ability to independently defend themselves.
In addition to the spending commitments, NATO has taken steps to align with Trump’s priorities, including the launch of the “Arctic Sentry” military exercise aimed at countering Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic region, addressing Trump’s concerns regarding strategic territories.
As the summit unfolds, the dynamic between Trump and NATO allies will continue to evolve, with the potential for both collaboration and contention on various fronts.
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Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price in Washington and Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.
