Ahead of an upcoming NATO summit in Turkey, former President Donald Trump reiterated his long-standing criticisms of the alliance, citing defense spending and what he described as a "one sided path" for the United States. Trump took to social media platform Truth Social to voice his concerns.
"The United States spends more money on NATO than any other country, by far, to protect them, without getting any benefit from so doing," Trump stated, posting estimated defense expenditures for several NATO member nations. He cited U.S. spending at $999 billion, the United Kingdom at $90.5 billion, France at $66.5 billion, Italy at $48.8 billion, and Poland at $44.3 billion for the period of 2014-2025, contrasting these figures with lower spending from other nations, including Germany. A NATO release detailing estimated 2025 defense expenditures listed the U.S. at $980 billion, with figures for other nations closely aligning with Trump's post.
Trump further asserted that the relationship was not reciprocal, stating, "They were not there for us!!!" His comments come as the alliance prepares for its summit in Ankara, Turkey, where Trump is scheduled to attend.
This is not the first time Trump has voiced displeasure with NATO members regarding their contributions and support. In mid-April, following an incident in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump described NATO as "useless" and a "Paper Tiger" when he claimed the alliance offered assistance but was not needed. In June 2026, Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House, where discussions likely touched upon these ongoing concerns.
Trump has previously been critical of NATO allies, particularly in relation to the U.S. involvement in conflicts such as the war with Iran. The former president's critiques often focus on what he perceives as an unequal distribution of defense burdens among member states, arguing that the U.S. shoulders a disproportionate amount of the financial and military commitment to the alliance's collective security.