Trump plans billions in arms sales as NATO summit tests alliance frayed by Iran war: 'Daddy isn’t going anywhere'

Trump to Announce Billions in Arms Sales at NATO Summit in Ankara

WASHINGTON — President Trump will attend the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, this week with plans to announce billions of dollars in U.S. arms sales and to urge alliance members to increase defense spending. The two-day meeting begins Tuesday.

Trump has previously stated he was considering withdrawal from NATO after some allies declined to provide access to facilities during the conflict with Iran. Administration officials said the president decided to attend in part because of his relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and to reaffirm U.S. leadership in the alliance while pressing for higher spending.

A joint NATO commitment reached last year sets a target for members to spend 5 percent of GDP on defense by 2035. Under the framework, 3.5 percent would cover core military outlays and 1.5 percent would support infrastructure, networks, civil preparedness, innovation, and the defense industrial base.

An administration official said Sunday that billions of dollars in U.S. arms-sale announcements are expected on the sidelines of the summit. Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte plan to press European members to convert the 5-percent target into a binding commitment rather than an aspirational goal. A White House official noted that Trump will identify countries using what the official called “funny math” in their spending calculations.

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said Sunday that the Ankara meeting is the moment for allies to increase contributions. He stated that European nations and Canada have already committed nearly $139 billion in defense spending, with roughly half directed toward American-made equipment, weapons, and munitions. Whitaker added that Poland, the Nordic countries, and the Baltic states lead in meeting targets, while Germany is projected to reach 5 percent by 2029. He said Trump expects all allies to move faster toward the goal.

Trump posted a chart on Truth Social last week showing U.S. military outlays compared with those of other NATO members. He wrote that it is “ridiculous” for the United States to continue on a one-sided path when the relationship is not reciprocal.

White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said the United States and its partners will discuss frameworks to increase procurement of key capabilities and to allow American companies to present their products. Taylor Budowich, a Trump adviser, said the president has rebuilt NATO to serve Western interests.

Fallout from the Iran conflict is expected to be discussed, though its prominence may be limited after Trump signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 to begin talks with Iran. Rutte visited the White House the following week to address European positions during the conflict. John Ullyot, who held Pentagon roles in both Trump administrations, said European governments are now responding to earlier U.S. criticism of burden-sharing.

Trump is scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict and to hold talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who was previously imprisoned by U.S. forces in Iraq. Trump has suggested that Syrian troops could be asked to address Hezbollah positions near Israel’s northern border, which would involve Israeli withdrawal from parts of Lebanon.

The summit will also address a separate dispute involving soccer. Trump contacted FIFA officials to request reversal of a one-game ban imposed on U.S. player Folarin Balogun ahead of a match against Belgium. Belgian officials have expressed frustration over the intervention.

The previous NATO summit in the Netherlands included discussion of U.S. interest in Greenland. Since January, Washington and Copenhagen have agreed to further talks on expanding the U.S. military presence on the island. An administration official said Sunday that the current governments in Greenland, Denmark, and the United States want a permanent solution and that acquisition by the United States remains the preferred option for meeting NATO defense requirements.

The 2026 Ankara summit is scheduled for July 7-8. Draft documents under consideration include updated targets for defense spending and continued support for Ukraine.