ANKARA
Ahead of a pivotal summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, NATO leaders have unveiled a series of defence deals worth tens of billions of dollars. The move is a strategic signal to Washington that European allies are finally accelerating their defence spending and military production to meet long-standing demands for greater autonomy.
At a defence forum in Ankara, Secretary General Mark Rutte called for an industrial “revolution,” urging European nations to move beyond fragmented production and bureaucratic hurdles.
The summit also marks a potential thaw in U.S.-Turkey relations, with sources suggesting President Trump may allow Turkey to rejoin the F-35 stealth fighter program. This comes as Trump arrives to meet Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, following intense friction regarding NATO’s support in the U.S.-Iran conflict.
Amid fears that the U.S. might reduce its European footprint, NATO allies increased their 2025 defense spending by $90 billion, reaching a total of $570 billion. With Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine and threats from other global powers, NATO is under pressure to prove that its collective defense is more than just a reliance on American military might.
BOX
Defense Initiatives and Investments:
- New Hardware: Major orders include U.S.-made surveillance drones from Northrop Grumman and a new fleet of planes from Sweden’s Saab.
- Missile Production: Lockheed Martin and Germany’s Rheinmetall signed a deal to jointly produce ATACMS missiles in Germany—the first time this technology will be manufactured outside the U.S.
- Anti-Drone Surge: Allies pledged over $40 billion toward anti-drone capabilities over the next five years.
