NATO allies will announce new arms contracts worth “tens of billions” of dollars at this week’s summit in Ankara as they seek to show US President Donald Trump they are acting on a major defense spending pledge, Secretary General Mark Rutte said Monday.
Trump is expected to join leaders of the 32-member alliance in the Turkish capital on Tuesday for a summit hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The meeting comes one year after NATO members pledged, under pressure from Trump, to raise defense and security-related spending to five percent of gross domestic product by 2035.
“Just one year later, we already see transformational progress,” Rutte told reporters in Ankara.
He said European allies and Canada were already investing around four percent of GDP in defense and security and would present clear plans for reaching the five percent target.
NATO allies are also expected to use an industry forum on the sidelines of the summit to announce major arms deals.
“We will announce tens of billions in new contracts that will provide the crucial kit we need to deter and defend,” Rutte said.
He said European allies and Canada spent nearly 20 percent more on core defense last year than in the previous year, adding that spending in 2025 and 2026 combined would amount to $258 billion in extra investment.
“We are investing in our own security,” Rutte said. “Ensuring we have what we need to safeguard our societies today and tomorrow. Because the threats we face are real — including from Russia.”
The summit comes as European leaders seek to avoid a confrontation with Trump, who has repeatedly criticized NATO allies over defense spending and recently accused Europe of failing to respond strongly enough to his war in Iran.
Diplomats cited by Agence France-Presse said leaders were counting on Erdoğan’s good relations with Trump to help prevent tensions at the summit.
Rutte also said European countries were taking a leading role in support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend part of the summit.
“Right now, Ukraine is changing the dynamics on the battlefield, thanks to the bravery, dedication, and ingenuity of their fighting forces,” Rutte said. “But they need our continued support, especially in air defense.”
Diplomats told AFP that European countries and Canada are expected to pledge at the summit to keep at least 70 billion euros in military aid flowing to Kyiv each year in 2026 and 2027, as Trump has largely halted US support.
The summit has also drawn criticism over Turkey’s restrictions on media access. Several independent and opposition-leaning Turkish outlets were denied accreditation, including T24, Cumhuriyet, ANKA and Sözcü TV.
Rutte said media access was important for NATO events.
“When it comes to the media, it is very important for NATO that media can attend major events in person,” he said.
© Agence France-Presse