NATO Leaders to Unveil Multi-Billion-Dollar Defense Deals Ahead of Trump Summit in Ankara

NATO leaders are set to announce defense agreements worth tens of billions of dollars in Ankara on Tuesday, underscoring Europe’s commitment to increasing military spending ahead of a high-profile summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. The announcements will take place during a NATO defense industry forum before Trump meets Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and joins alliance leaders for the summit, which begins with a formal dinner.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised European allies for making what he described as “staggering” increases in defense spending, driven by security concerns following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and continued pressure from President Trump for NATO members to contribute more to collective defense.

Trump has consistently argued that European nations rely too heavily on the United States for security under the NATO alliance. Rutte said the increased investments are helping create a more balanced partnership, reassuring Washington that the alliance is becoming more sustainable.

According to NATO, European members and Canada increased defense spending by roughly $90 billion in real terms during 2025, bringing total military expenditures above $570 billion—an annual increase of about 20%.

Despite the spending surge, tensions remain between Washington and its allies. Trump recently criticized NATO members for providing insufficient support during the U.S. conflict with Iran and suggested the United States could reconsider its commitment to the alliance’s mutual defense obligations. European governments maintain they supported U.S. military operations by providing access to airspace and military bases, even though they were not directly consulted before the conflict.

The United States has also announced troop reductions in Europe, scaled back forces assigned to NATO defense plans, and launched a review of its military presence across the continent. European officials hope Erdogan and Rutte can help keep summit discussions constructive despite disagreements over Iran, Greenland, and recent diplomatic tensions involving Italy.

The defense agreements remain confidential ahead of their official unveiling. However, Dutch Defense Minister Dilan Yesilgoz confirmed the Netherlands will announce more than €3 billion ($3.43 billion) in defense initiatives, including air defense cooperation with Belgium and naval partnerships with the United Kingdom. NATO is also expected to reveal plans to replace its aging U.S.-built AWACS surveillance aircraft with Sweden’s Saab GlobalEye system.