Trump Faces NATO Allies at High-Stakes Summit

President Donald Trump is set to travel to Ankara, Turkey, for this week's NATO summit as the alliance faces renewed pressure over defence spending, the war in Ukraine and security in the Middle East.

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The two-day summit, beginning on Tuesday at the Beştepe Presidential Compound, will be chaired by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Trump is scheduled to return to the United States on Wednesday after holding a news conference and taking part in several bilateral meetings, including talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Defence Spending in Focus

Ahead of the gathering, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said the summit would assess how member states are progressing towards a target of spending 5% of gross domestic product on defence. He said Poland, the Nordic nations, the Baltic states and Germany were making significant progress, while other allies continued to fall behind.

Whitaker also said the United States would review how European allies were expanding NATO's capabilities as Washington sought to shift more responsibility for continental defence to Europe.

Trump Renews Criticism of NATO

The summit comes as Trump continues to question NATO's value and criticise European allies for what he says is an unequal sharing of defence responsibilities.

In recent months, Trump has suggested the United States could reconsider its role in the alliance and has accused allies of failing to support Washington during its military campaign against Iran. Last week, he again argued that the United States spends disproportionately on European security without receiving equivalent benefits in return.

While Trump has described NATO members as spending money "on NATO," alliance guidelines require countries to invest a percentage of their GDP in their own national defence budgets rather than contributing directly to NATO itself. Although the United States has the alliance's largest defence budget, several allies, including Poland and the Baltic states, spend a higher share of GDP on defence.

Middle East and European Security

U.S. officials said discussions are expected to include security in the Strait of Hormuz following the recent conflict involving Iran. Although several NATO countries have expressed willingness to contribute to maritime security operations, officials acknowledged that many lack the naval capabilities needed for a significant role.

Senior administration officials also confirmed that the Pentagon is conducting a review of U.S. military deployments in Europe, with possible force adjustments aimed at encouraging European allies to assume greater responsibility for regional defence. Officials said any decisions would be based on strategic considerations rather than political factors.

Ukraine and Turkey on the Agenda

Ukraine is expected to remain a central issue at the summit. Trump is due to meet Zelenskyy on Wednesday, with U.S. officials saying the talks will focus on efforts to end the war with Russia.

Officials said the front line has changed little in recent months despite limited advances by both Ukrainian and Russian forces. They expressed hope that Trump's meetings with Zelenskyy, followed by further contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, could help move negotiations forward.

Trump's visit also reflects his close relationship with Erdogan. Before the summit, he suggested he could announce a significant initiative benefiting Turkey, potentially including progress on Ankara's long-standing interest in acquiring F-35 fighter jets. Turkey's participation in the programme remains restricted because of its purchase of Russian-made air defence systems.

Meanwhile, Rutte has described the summit as the beginning of a new phase for NATO, with European allies taking greater responsibility for defence while maintaining strong U.S. involvement. He said member states are expected to begin implementing defence investment commitments made last year and announced plans for substantial new defence industry contracts.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 6 July 2026

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