Trump attacks NATO allies ahead of Ankara summit, calling relationship 'one-way' as allies scramble to show unity

The NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8 is shaping up as a high-stakes test of the transatlantic alliance, with President Donald Trump launching fresh attacks on European allies over defense spending and the war in Iran. Behind the scenes, diplomats are racing to finalize a declaration that includes a two-year, €70 billion military assistance package for Ukraine and language on equitable burden-sharing.

Trump's pre-summit broadside

On his Truth Social platform, Trump listed what he said were NATO spending figures: the United States 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, with Germany and others "much lower." He called the relationship "ridiculous" and "one-way," adding that European allies "haven't been close!!!"

The United States spends for NATO more than any other country, and by a wide margin, to guarantee its protection, without gaining any advantage.

The figures do not account for GDP or population, and analysts note that US defense spending covers global commitments far beyond Europe. Still, the outburst set a tense tone for the gathering of 32 member states.

The 3.5% commitment and burden-sharing

A senior allied diplomat described the summit as "the moment of truth," referring to the pledge made at last year's Hague meeting to reach 3.5% of GDP on core defense. The diplomat said the US message is "now it's your turn, Europe," and the European answer must be "Washington, we'll take care of it."

This summit is the moment of truth. Last year in The Hague all allies made a concrete commitment: to reach 3.5% for core defense. Now we Europeans must show we are up to that commitment.

Under Trump's pressure, NATO leaders had previously agreed to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, according to one report. The summit will test whether that target is still viable.

Ukraine aid: a biennial pledge

Negotiations on the final declaration include a promise of €70 billion in military assistance to Ukraine for 2026 and 2027. A diplomatic source stressed that the commitment must be biennial and equitable, even if the war ends, to turn Ukraine into a "porcupine" as a lasting security guarantee. The silence procedure deadline on the text was moved to July 3.

It is important that the commitment to assist Kyiv is biennial. Even if the war should end. Because we must transform Ukraine into a porcupine: it is the best security guarantee so that this never happens again.

Data from the Kiel Institute's Ukraine Support Tracker shows wide disparities in aid. Italy has provided €4.24 billion since February 2022 (0.18% of GDP), far behind Germany (€29.93 billion) and the UK (€21.30 billion), and only ahead of Spain among large European countries.

The Iran war and Hormuz mission

A second fault line is the US-Iran conflict that began in February. Washington wants a NATO maritime mission in the Strait of Hormuz to protect freedom of navigation, but several allies are reluctant to commit before a formal end to hostilities. Secretary General Mark Rutte has tried to ease tensions by reminding the American public that allies provided bases for Iran operations (within the limits of non-participation) and that allied defense investments support American jobs.

The defense industry showcase

To impress Trump, July 7 will feature the largest defense industry forum ever organized alongside a NATO summit, with all major companies expected. Announcements of deals, letters of intent on multilateral cooperation, and co-production of American weapons in Europe are planned, with sources describing the value as "billions."

Italy's position and the European pillar

Italy arrives in Ankara with mixed credentials. Its Ukraine aid is modest, but Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni can argue she has resisted pressure from the radical right to cut support. Meanwhile, Canada and nine other partners are creating a "Defence, Security and Resilience Bank" to channel at least $100 billion in investments from "middle powers" into NATO, anticipating a declining US financial role. The broader strategic context is the long-standing US "Pivot to Asia," which envisions a stronger European pillar handling regional threats while Washington focuses on China.