President Donald Trump has influenced the NATO alliance at previous summits, urging member countries to increase their defense spending. As he prepares to meet leaders in Turkey, his focus will be ensuring these promises are enforced.
Many NATO countries have responded to Trump’s call to spend 5% of their GDP on defense over the upcoming decade. This reflects how the U.S. president’s actions have reshaped the alliance, despite ongoing disputes over issues such as the Iran conflict and his interest in Greenland.
“President Trump fully expects that all allies will step up immediately and get on the path to 5% and do it with urgency,” said Matt Whitaker, U.S. ambassador to NATO.
Trump’s grievances about the disproportionate U.S. defense spending have persisted, with efforts to appease him from figures like Mark Rutte, NATO’s secretary-general. Rutte showcased charts to emphasize allies’ increased spending commitments since 2017.
Luke Coffey, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, terms the Ankara summit as a “first report card” following last year’s meeting in The Hague. He suggests Trump’s satisfaction with the outcomes would allow him a diplomatic success.
During his trip, Trump is set to meet Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy amid the ongoing conflict with Russia, now entering its fifth year. The White House confirmed a scheduled meeting on Wednesday.
Trump will also interact with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, although no goals have been outlined by the administration. The meeting comes as Trump has commented on Syria’s potential role against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Another planned discussion is with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a personal ally of Trump. No other bilateral meetings are scheduled.
Following positive moments at the G7 summit, Trump resumed disputes upon returning to the U.S. He criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on immigration and claimed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni requested a photo with him. The subsequent denial by Meloni led to canceled diplomatic engagements.
Tensions persist with various leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron, despite Macron’s recent efforts to appease Trump.
In response to these dynamics, a bipartisan group of senators plans to attend the summit, aiming to emphasize congressional support for NATO and counter Trump’s harsh stance.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., leading the delegation, expressed the importance of NATO relations for the U.S.
The discussion of “NATO 3.0” by Trump’s administration envisions Europe addressing more of its security needs. This proposal was presented earlier in the year by Elbridge Colby, U.S. undersecretary of defense.
A six-month review of U.S. forces in Europe was announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, surprising some NATO members.
Despite Trump sending conflicting signals earlier regarding troop deployment, Sen. Shaheen criticized the NATO 3.0 concept, highlighting the threat posed by Russia.
Although Europe is increasing defense spending, reliance on the U.S. remains crucial for security.
Liana Fix of the Council on Foreign Relations noted most European countries are not yet capable of self-defense without American support.
Apart from defense spending, NATO has adapted to Trump’s demands in several ways, including introducing “Arctic Sentry,” a military exercise addressing Russian and Chinese activities and protecting Greenland.
The U.S. has emphasized acquiring Greenland for strategic purposes, aligning with Trump’s repeated assertions.
Contributors include Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price and Lorne Cook.