NATO Chief Optimistic on Defense Spending Ahead of Ankara Summit

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday projected optimism that European NATO allies and Canada are "on a trajectory to equalize their defense spending" with the United States, as President Donald Trump continues to lambaste allies for allegedly spending too little.

Rutte's remarks at Turkey's presidential palace in Ankara come ahead of a critical two-day leaders' summit starting Tuesday in the Turkish capital, where discussions are expected to focus on whether allies can demonstrate progress that pledges on defense are translating into results.

On spending among European allies and Canada, Rutte said that "the evidence we see so far is impressive."

Projections show the allies will invest a combined $258 billion (€226 billion) more in defense in 2025 and 2026 than they have in previous years, he said.

"Just one year into a 10-year project, we see that European allies and Canada are already investing around 4% of their GDP in defens and security," Rutte added.

The NATO chief also demanded that the allies put forward at the Ankara summit "clear, concrete and credible plans" to reach the organization's spending targets.

US NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker said last week that Trump "fully expects that all allies will step up immediately and get on the path to 5% and do it with urgency."

NATO allies pledge more spending on defense

At a summit last year, the 32 members of NATO committed to invest 5% of their gross domestic product on defense by 2035, with 3.5% allocated to core defense budgets, and the remaining 1.5% on strategically important roads, bridges and ports.

For European NATO members, spending 5% of GDP on defense represents a big leap, but Washington has made it clear that it expects Europe to take the lead in its own backyard.

Rutte on Monday said that European allies and Canada were "taking on more leadership within NATO's command and control structure," signalling "a real shift in mindset."

Merz expects a signal from Europe in Ankara

In a press statement ahead of the summit, the German chancellery said that Chancellor Friedrich Merz hopes that the summit in Ankara will send a signal that "we are building a European NATO" in order for the alliance to "remain transatlantic."

German media also reported that Merz spoke with Trump on Friday to correct the US president who had called the defense budgets of several NATO member states "ridiculous," on social media, while singling out Germany in particular. According to reports, Merz told Trump the figures were outdated.

Merz has previously said that Germany plans to aggressively ramp up defense spending on a fast track to reach the 5% threshold before 2029, which would be six years ahead of the NATO deadline.

Germany's draft defense budget for 2027 calls for a 30% year-on-year increase to nearly €110 billion.

During a press conference on Friday, Merz said that Germany will double its defense spending within four years.

This is the greatest effort we have ever made to strengthen our defense capabilities. In this respect, we have no reason to shy away from anyone," Merz told journalists last week, adding he would "express this in all modesty" at the NATO summit in Ankara.

Trump pressure on NATO allies

Tuesday's summit comes at a crucial time for the NATO alliance with the Trump administration earlier this year upending the alliance's unity by threatening to take over Greenland from Denmark, and then blasting allies for not providing support for the Iran war, which was launched by the US and Israel without consulting European governments.

Trump has for years called for NATO allies to spend more on defense, but the recent rhetoric coming out of Washington shows that it expects changes.

In an speech last month that alarmed allies at the NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Europe has gotten used to an "era of free riding," while calling NATO a "paper tiger."

Hegseth also announced a six-month "review" of the US force posture in Europe, with the goal of "a balanced alliance with Europe in the lead for its own defense." This has been interpreted as Washington laying the groundwork to pull back its forces from Europe.

The secretary said the review process is "designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe.

"Going forward, our annual NATO dues will be contingent on other countries meeting their defense spending targets. Where other allies do not spend with urgency, our dues contributions will go down. NATO will be a two-way street," Hegseth said.

Edited by: Zac Crellin