Trump Pressures NATO Allies for 5% GDP Spending in Ankara

NATO leaders convened in Ankara, Türkiye, on July 7-8, 2026, for a summit dominated by Donald Trump's demands for a more transactional alliance. Trump pressured member states to increase defense spending to a target of 5% of GDP by 2035, a framework termed "NATO 3.0" that shifts primary conventional defense responsibility for Europe to its own allies. He criticized members—specifically France, Germany, Italy, and the UK—for failing to support U.S. military operations against Iran in the Strait of Hormuz and labeled the alliance a "paper tiger."

To maintain U.S. engagement, Secretary General Mark Rutte highlighted the "Trump Trillion," noting that European allies and Canada have increased spending by approximately $1.2 trillion since 2017. The summit resulted in over $50 billion in new military procurements, largely benefiting U.S. firms, and a pledge of roughly $80 billion in military aid to Ukraine for 2026 and 2027. Trump also granted Ukraine a license to domestically produce Patriot missile interceptors.

Trump leveraged his personal relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to attend the summit, subsequently announcing the lifting of CAATSA sanctions on Turkey and expressing openness to restoring Turkey's access to the F-35 fighter jet program. This move drew strong opposition from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned it would destroy the Middle East's power balance. Meanwhile, Trump reiterated his desire for the U.S. to acquire Greenland, a claim rejected by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. The event concluded with a renewed commitment to Article 5, though it highlighted a shift toward European strategic autonomy.