Trump and NATO Allies Reach Major Missile and Defense Deals

NATO leaders convened in Ankara, Turkiye, to endorse a strategic vision for a stronger European role in alliance defense. To maintain U.S. engagement amid criticisms from Donald Trump regarding the burden of defense, European allies pledged $50 billion in new procurements and €70 billion in military aid for Ukraine for 2026. In return, Trump reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Article 5's mutual defense guarantee.

The summit produced several industrial breakthroughs to reshape Europe's military landscape. Germany agreed to purchase and station Tomahawk cruise missiles on its soil, while Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall will manufacture ATACMS ballistic missiles at a facility in Unterlüß, Germany—the first time the system will be produced outside the United States. Additionally, a five-nation memorandum established a European maintenance network for PAC-3 Patriot missiles.

Trump announced plans to grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air defense interceptors, with Poland providing serial production support. Germany and Ukraine also agreed to produce Ukrainian-designed Bars cruise drones in Germany. In bilateral negotiations, Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan agreed to welcome Turkiye back into the F-35 program and lift CAATSA sanctions, provided Turkiye sells its S-400 systems to the United Arab Emirates.

Despite these deals and a $40 billion commitment to counter-drone initiatives, tensions persist. U.S. officials expressed frustration over European reluctance to grant basing and over-flight rights for military actions against Iran, while European leaders continue to pursue autonomous defense capabilities due to lingering distrust of U.S. commitments.