US President Donald Trump Criticizes NATO Defence Spending at Summit

US President Donald Trump told NATO members that the United States is paying "billions too much" for Europe's security and said he would raise the issue at the NATO summit in Ankara. He added that most allies have agreed to raise defence spending to 5 % of GDP and suggested that Spain, which has previously resisted the target, may soon join the effort.

NATO announced a series of new defence agreements worth billions of dollars, including the procurement of high‑altitude unmanned aircraft, a $40 billion counter‑drone programme and the replacement of its E‑3 surveillance fleet with up to ten Saab GlobalEye aircraft. NATO secretary‑general Mark Rutte highlighted the "staggering" extra defence spending pledged by European allies and Canada for 2025‑2026.