Trump's NATO pressure campaign continues as summit begins

Trump Attends NATO Summit in Ankara as Members Discuss Defense Spending Targets

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media July 2 that the United States spends more on NATO than any other country and receives no benefit from the arrangement. The comment preceded his arrival in Ankara for the annual NATO summit.

Trump has criticized NATO spending levels since his first term. During that period he described the alliance as obsolete and stated that member states were not meeting financial commitments. In his second term he has continued to press for higher defense outlays by European members. Last year he also stated that the United States would take control of Greenland, a position that drew objections from Denmark and other NATO partners.

Thirty-two member states are scheduled to meet in Ankara. Agenda items include commitments made at the 2025 summit in The Hague to raise annual defense spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035, coordination of defense industry supply chains, and support for Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated in a Washington speech that the meeting would demonstrate delivery on the Hague commitments and advance the concept of a stronger European role within the alliance.

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said in a July 6 call with reporters that Trump expects all allies to move immediately toward the 5 percent target. Data from NATO show that U.S. defense spending accounts for approximately 59 percent of total alliance expenditure. European members and Canada recorded a 20 percent increase in defense spending in the most recent reporting period.

Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said European countries have historically integrated their defense planning with the United States rather than among themselves. He noted that changing this pattern would require extended coordination. Ian Lesser of the German Marshall Fund stated that a broad consensus exists within the alliance that NATO will become more European-led while retaining a U.S. role.

Rutte has met with Trump multiple times since taking office. In one Oval Office session Trump said he sought loyalty from European allies in return for U.S. support. European governments did not participate in planning for U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran in 2025. U.S. aircraft did, however, operate from bases in several European NATO countries during those operations.

Torrey Taussig of the Atlantic Council said the outcome of the summit will depend in part on personal interactions among leaders. She noted that Rutte has presented spending data and progress reports to address Trump’s concerns. Taussig added that Trump has not indicated a desire to end U.S. participation in the alliance.

Turkey is hosting the meeting. Trump stated that the location in Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was a factor in his decision to attend. Turkey maintains the second-largest armed forces in NATO and has expanded its domestic defense industry. It delayed ratification of Sweden’s and Finland’s accession until 2023 and 2024. Turkey has also supplied military equipment to Ukraine and expanded its regional influence following the change of government in Syria.

Ankara prepared infrastructure and public spaces ahead of the summit. Bergmann observed that Turkey’s domestic political environment, including restrictions on opposition parties and media, has drawn criticism from previous U.S. administrations. Trump has not raised those issues in connection with the summit.

The meeting is expected to produce statements on spending targets and industrial cooperation. No major treaty changes or new membership decisions are on the formal agenda.