Donald Trump calls NATO support “ridiculous” ahead of Ankara summit
President Donald Trump warned that the United States bears a disproportionate share of NATO costs, saying the alliance is a “one‑sided” burden. In posts on Truth Social he claimed the U.S. spends about $999 billion on defense, far more than European partners such as the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Poland, and described the situation as “ridiculous.”
Trump’s remarks came just before the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, and he accused allies of failing to contribute adequately, even citing their limited help during the recent Hormuz Strait incident. He urged NATO members to increase defense spending and called for “strong, capable allies” rather than “dependents waiting for American protection.”
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker echoed the president’s concerns, noting gaps in allies’ defense investment and criticizing Turkey’s purchase of Russia’s S‑300 system.