The president heads to Turkey today with fresh complaints about Europ…

Trump Travels to Turkey for NATO Summit Focused on Defense Spending and Security Commitments

President Donald Trump is scheduled to depart for Turkey on Monday to participate in a NATO leaders’ meeting. The gathering comes after the United States marked the 250th anniversary of its independence. The summit’s main session is set for Wednesday morning, with diplomats arranging a condensed schedule. Trump is also expected to hold separate meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa before a news conference and return to Washington, according to White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly.

Trump has repeatedly stated that European NATO members have not contributed enough to the alliance’s collective defense relative to the United States. He has pointed to U.S. spending levels and called for greater allied contributions. NATO data show that total defense expenditures by European allies and Canada rose by an additional $139 billion in the most recent reported year. Several countries have also signed weapons procurement agreements and letters of intent during the same period.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with Trump in the Oval Office last month and presented figures on European spending increases since 2014, described by Rutte as the “Trump trillion.” The presentation used large-format displays with lettering styled after Trump’s book “The Art of the Deal.” Trump stated during the meeting that he sought “loyalty” from allies. Rutte had previously referred to Trump as “daddy” during the June 2025 summit in the Netherlands while describing alliance dynamics, a remark that circulated widely online.

European defense spending as a share of gross domestic product remained below the 2 percent guideline adopted in 2014 for most member states throughout the 2000s and early 2010s. The United States accounted for the majority of NATO’s total defense outlays during those years. After 2017, the number of allies meeting or approaching the 2 percent target increased, reaching a record level by 2024. The Trump administration has linked further U.S. force posture decisions to continued progress toward the 5 percent target pledged for 2035.

Trump has approved additional U.S. troop deployments to Poland, including a planned increase of 5,000 personnel. In other cases, the Pentagon and White House have issued differing statements on planned rotations, with some adjustments later reversed. Administration officials have indicated that countries meeting higher spending levels may receive priority consideration for joint training and equipment acquisition processes.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz questioned aspects of U.S. strategy regarding Iran in a public setting earlier this year. Trump responded with public criticism over multiple days. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has aligned with Trump on several migration and security issues but differed publicly over the use of Italian bases in operations against Iran. Both governments have continued coordination on other alliance matters.

NATO diplomats are preparing a proposed package of approximately $70 billion in military assistance for Ukraine covering 2026 and 2027. The United States would not contribute directly to this specific pledge but has not blocked supportive language in the draft text. Separate U.S. efforts to reach a settlement between Russia and Ukraine have seen limited activity in recent weeks, with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner assigned to Iran-related talks.

Alliance work on a formal strategy addressing Russian military capabilities has been paused. European officials attribute the pause to U.S. concerns about language that would classify Russia as an adversary. Some NATO members bordering Russia have expressed preference for continued direct U.S. security guarantees rather than reliance on French or German-led initiatives.

French Deputy Defense Minister Alice Rufo stated that Paris has long advocated greater European responsibility for continental defense and that current U.S. policy aligns with that objective. She called for any transition of responsibilities to occur through coordinated planning to avoid gaps in collective deterrence. Several Western European governments have begun joint planning sessions with U.S. military staff on potential adjustments to American force levels.

A senior NATO diplomat described preparations as generally positive while noting that outcomes remain subject to developments during the meetings. The diplomat cited Rutte’s role in managing discussions among leaders. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew G. Whitaker said the summit will measure progress against the 5 percent spending commitment and that the United States intends to maintain its presence in Europe while directing additional attention toward higher-spending allies.

The refurbished Boeing 747 intended for presidential travel is expected to be used for the first time on this trip. Trump has said he would have considered skipping the summit if it were not hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has led Turkey since 2003.

European officials have stated that their defense increases respond to both Russian military activity and U.S. policy signals favoring greater allied self-reliance. They have requested advance coordination on any U.S. troop changes. NATO members are also discussing possible naval contributions to secure shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz, subject to arrangements with Iranian authorities regarding mine clearance operations.

The meeting occurs against a backdrop of continued Russian and Ukrainian strikes on each other’s territory. U.S. officials have said they will evaluate allied spending records when considering future security cooperation arrangements.