Trump’s Influence on NATO and Upcoming Ankara Summit

President Donald Trump successfully influenced NATO at last year’s summit, pushing member countries to increase defense spending. This week, as he meets with leaders in Turkey, his aim is to enforce that commitment.

NATO Defense Spending

Trump urged NATO countries to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense over the next decade. Many have shown efforts to align with this target. This demonstrates Trump’s impact on the alliance, which has bent to his leadership. However, challenges remain with issues like the Iran war and Trump’s controversial actions regarding Greenland.

President Trump fully expects that all allies will step up immediately and get on the path to 5% and do it with urgency. – Matt Whitaker, U.S. ambassador to NATO

Trump departs Monday evening for the Ankara summit, where he continues to express concerns over U.S. defense spending compared to other NATO countries. Despite diplomatic efforts by figures like Mark Rutte to appease him, Trump remains focused on these disparities.

NATO Summit in Ankara

Luke Coffey from the Hudson Institute describes the Ankara meeting as a critical evaluation of last year’s summit outcomes. If NATO leaders present solid plans to meet spending targets, Trump may see this as a success.

During the summit, a key agenda includes addressing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and plans discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moreover, Trump’s sideline meetings include an encounter with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, amid tensions over Hezbollah in Lebanon. A separate meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a close ally, is planned.

Despite diplomatic successes at the recent G7 summit, Trump rekindled controversies upon returning home, notably regarding British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

U.S. Congressional Support for NATO

Bipartisan senators, led by Jeanne Shaheen, aim to express robust U.S. support for NATO at the summit. This initiative seeks to offset Trump’s often critical stance towards the alliance.

They are our best allies, they are our best trading partners, they are critical to our national security, to our economic success, and we need to encourage those relationships. – Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.

The Concept of NATO 3.0

Trump’s administration advocates for “NATO 3.0,” where Europe would assume more security arrangements, allowing the U.S. to redirect its efforts elsewhere. Elbridge Colby outlined this strategy, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a surprising U.S. forces review in Europe.

Critics, like Sen. Shaheen, argue this strategy underestimates the threat posed by Russia, suggesting it overlooks the interconnected security concerns.

European Reliance on U.S. Defense

NATO countries committed to the 5% GDP defense spending target, with a portion designated for infrastructure. Spain, among others, expressed concerns about these ambitious goals. Despite increased commitments, Europe largely depends on U.S support for defense, a core NATO principle.

This is the reality for most Europeans. – Liana Fix, Council on Foreign Relations

Although NATO aims to accommodate Trump’s demands, such as through exercises like “Arctic Sentry,” Europe remains reliant on U.S. support.

Contributing writers Michelle L. Price and Lorne Cook provided additional reporting for this article.