Ankara, Turkey. NATO leaders on Tuesday began announcing arms deals worth tens of billions of dollars in Turkey, underscoring efforts to respond to U.S. calls for higher European defence spending ahead of a summit with President Donald Trump. The announcements were made before the alliance gathering, which begins with a dinner on Tuesday evening.
Defence deals announced in Ankara
At a defence industry forum in Ankara, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte presented a series of initiatives as representatives from NATO member states joined him on stage. The value of the deals was projected onto a screen during the event, which featured music and promotional videos.
“We can do more when we do it together. And we must do more of it,” Rutte said. “NATO allies are joining new multinational procurement coalitions. This really helps us get more of what you need across a range of capabilities.”
Procurement plans and industry cooperation
The deals, which had largely been kept undisclosed ahead of the summit, included European countries purchasing surveillance drones from U.S. company Northrop Grumman NOC.N, and NATO purchasing aircraft from Sweden’s Saab SAABb.ST.
A source told Reuters that the United States is also in talks with Germany and other countries about establishing joint missile production in Europe for weapons in high demand for the defence of Ukraine.
Pressure to raise defence spending
The move followed growing concern in Washington over whether U.S. weapons manufacturers can meet demand, as U.S. arms stocks have been reduced by the war on Iran and the war in Ukraine.
Rutte also said NATO allies would invest more than $40 billion over the next five years in anti-drone capabilities.
Summit agenda and Trump visit
The announcements added emphasis to Trump’s repeated criticism that Europe has contributed too little to defence and relied too heavily on the United States through NATO, which has defended the continent since the early Cold War.
Trump repeated that message in a video previewing his visit on Truth Social, urging Europe to spend more on its own defence.
Trump will travel to meet Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and join other alliance leaders for the summit.
