NATO is poised to announce billions of dollars in new military projects and arms deals at a summit in Turkey this week, an initiative aimed at demonstrating increased defense spending and firepower to U.S. President Donald Trump. The alliance hopes these concrete developments will counter Trump's characterization of NATO as a "paper tiger" that relies heavily on American military contributions.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte indicated that "tens of billions in new contracts" will be unveiled, intended to provide essential equipment for deterrence and defense. This effort follows a previous presentation by Rutte that highlighted $1.2 trillion in spending by European allies and Canada since 2017, a figure that did not appear to sway Trump. The U.S. president has publicly expressed disappointment over some allies' reluctance to join actions against Iran and emphasized his demand for "loyalty."
Among the expected announcements is a contract to replace NATO's aging fleet of AWACS surveillance aircraft, some of which are approximately 50 years old. While NATO as an organization does not own military hardware, its member countries do. Some of the new projects will be financed through a European Union initiative that provides low-interest loans for defense purposes, raising up to $170 billion from capital markets.
The summit, hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, occurs amidst ongoing diplomatic tensions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the U.S. not to sell F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, citing concerns over Turkish President Erdogan's rhetoric regarding Israel and regional stability. Turkey was previously excluded from the F-35 program after acquiring Russian S-400 missile defense systems, though Trump has previously hinted at a potential resumption of sales. Netanyahu argued that such a sale would disrupt the Middle East's power balance, which he stated is maintained by Israeli air superiority.
The broader theme of the summit is a stronger Europe supporting a stronger NATO. The Trump administration has signaled that Europe must assume greater responsibility for its own security, allowing the U.S. to reorient its focus toward China and the Indo-Pacific region. This strategic shift, termed "NATO 3.0" by the Pentagon, envisions European nations taking a more prominent role in continental defense.
However, increasing defense expenditures presents challenges for member nations, potentially requiring higher taxes or the reallocation of resources from other priorities. In the United Kingdom, Defense Secretary John Healey resigned last month, reportedly due to the government's stance on defense spending amid perceived rising threats. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office has stated his focus will be on fostering a stronger, more European NATO during his tenure, which is nearing its end following his resignation announcement. The UK has committed to reaching NATO's defense spending target of 3.5% of GDP by 2035, though current plans project spending to reach only 2.7% by 2029, with no concrete roadmap for the interim.