NATO leaders announced defence agreements worth more than $50 billion on Tuesday as the alliance sought to demonstrate increased military investment in response to longstanding calls from US President Donald Trump for greater burden-sharing among member states.
Speaking alongside Recep Tayyip Erdoฤan in Ankara, Trump said he was “very disappointed” with NATO, accusing allies including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy of not providing sufficient support during the recent US conflict with Iran.
Trump added that he might not have attended the summit had it not been hosted by Tรผrkiye, citing his close relationship with Erdoฤan.
Ahead of the leaders’ meeting, NATO members unveiled defence agreements valued at more than $50 billion, including European purchases of surveillance drones from Northrop Grumman and military aircraft from Saab AB.
Mark Rutte urged member states to rapidly expand defence production, warning that Russia, China, North Korea and Iran continue to present significant security challenges.
Trump Signals Policy Shift on Tรผrkiye and Greenland
Trump also announced that the United States would lift sanctions imposed on Tรผrkiye in 2020 over its acquisition of Russian air defence systems. He further indicated support for a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Tรผrkiye, describing the country as an important strategic ally.
The US president also renewed his claim that Greenland should come under American control, arguing that the Arctic island holds vital strategic importance for US national security.
Mette Frederiksen rejected the proposal, reiterating that Greenland is not for sale and that Denmark’s sovereignty must be respected.
Trump said he had recently spoken with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressing optimism that both leaders remain willing to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.
NATO leaders are also expected to reaffirm their support for Ukraine, which continues to seek additional air defence systems as Russian military attacks intensify.
