European leaders are reportedly scrambling to manage President Donald Trump's expectations ahead of a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, this week. Concerns are high that Trump may react negatively, or 'blow up,' over defense spending commitments, a persistent point of contention between the U.S. and its European allies.
The United Kingdom, a key NATO member, is set to attend the summit without a defined strategy to meet the alliance's goal of spending 3.5 percent of GDP on defense by 2035. This lack of a clear plan for the outgoing government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves his successor in a challenging position.
UK Defense Secretary Dan Jarvis acknowledged the critical nature of developing such a plan, stating his intention to emphasize this need while in Ankara. However, a research fellow at King's College London expressed skepticism, noting that allies seek fully funded and accelerated plans, as well as consistency in leadership, neither of which the UK is currently poised to provide.
President Trump has recently renewed his criticism of European defense spending, highlighting the disparity between U.S. contributions and those of its allies. He has also expressed dissatisfaction with NATO's approach to the conflict in Iran and has previously suggested considering a U.S. withdrawal from the alliance.
Trump's attendance at the summit was reportedly secured with the help of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, whom Trump is scheduled to meet along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has been engaging with Trump to encourage continued U.S. involvement and to highlight progress on spending goals.
