U.S. expects 'very successful' NATO summit

The United States anticipates a highly successful NATO summit in Ankara next week, with a strong focus on bolstering defense capabilities and commitments among allies. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker expressed optimism, highlighting the importance of assessing the implementation of defense obligations agreed upon at the previous year's summit in The Hague.

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We are poised to have a very successful summit this year, as last year’s was unique and of exceptional importance.

Whitaker stressed that the upcoming meeting will critically examine NATO members' defense capabilities, emphasizing that the effectiveness of defense spending is paramount. "It's about the capabilities that are bought with those expenditures, and that must be supported by the current increase in burden-sharing here in Europe," he stated during a virtual press briefing.

The U.S. has been actively pressing European allies to assume greater responsibility for their own defense. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and at the urging of then-President Donald Trump, NATO allies committed to unprecedented increases in defense spending. The agreement aims for allies to invest 5% of their gross domestic product annually in defense and security by 2035, a level not seen since the Cold War.

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Ultimately, it's about the capabilities that are bought with those expenditures, and that must be supported by the current increase in burden-sharing here in Europe.

While some allies, including Poland, Nordic nations, and the Baltic states, are leading the way by meeting or nearing the 5% target, Whitaker noted that others are lagging. He conveyed that Trump expects these allies to "step up their efforts immediately." Tensions have previously surfaced between the U.S. and some European allies over perceived insufficient support for U.S. initiatives, with Trump having criticized allies for a lack of loyalty.

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Trump expects those allies who are still lagging to step up their efforts immediately.