NATO on Tuesday presented several military projects valued at billions of dollars, aiming to convince President Donald Trump that U.S. allies are transforming increased defense spending into tangible firepower.
"It’s money well spent," stated an energized NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to government ministers and defense industry officials during a summit in Turkey. He made the remarks at a defense industry forum branded as NATO's "big reveal," which featured techno music and a sophisticated video display.
Trump, who is scheduled to arrive in Ankara later on Tuesday, has previously labeled NATO a "paper tiger" that would cease functioning without American leadership and arms.
While NATO itself does not own weapons—these belong to the 32 member countries—the organization operates a fleet of 14 AWACS early warning radar surveillance planes, some of which are about 50 years old, alongside newer surveillance drones.
A deal to replace these aging aircraft was announced Tuesday. Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson confirmed that Swedish manufacturer Saab will supply up to 10 new GlobalEye surveillance aircraft for a consortium of 10 nations.
Kristersson noted that the twin-engine aircraft would be "made within the alliance for all the alliance," calling it "a moment of great pride."
Some of these projects will utilize funds from an EU system of low-interest defense loans, which has raised up to $170 billion on capital markets.
Rutte emphasized, "We need to ensure that we are translating our economic might into military capabilities, putting the cash to work from defense plans to drones, from money to missiles and interceptors."
Defense Sales Announced
Representatives from 15 nations gathered on a large podium bearing the NATO logo to announce a multinational procurement effort for air-to-air refueling and transport planes from Airbus.
Subsequently, Rutte announced a four-country initiative to acquire up to five new Triton surveillance drones to augment NATO’s existing small fleet.
"It is genuinely made in NATO, and creating jobs on both sides of the Atlantic," he remarked.
On the eve of the two-day military alliance summit in Turkey, Rutte told reporters that "we will announce tens of billions in new contracts that will provide the crucial kit we need to deter and defend."
However, no specific dollar figures were provided at Tuesday’s event, and some displayed projects had already been agreed upon.
This defense industry announcement follows weeks after Rutte attempted to address U.S. concerns regarding military spending at NATO by presenting a chart titled "The Trump Trillion," which illustrated $1.2 trillion in expenditures by European allies and Canada since 2017.
Trump appeared unmoved, stating he remained disappointed with certain NATO allies for refusing to participate in the Iran war, which he had initiated alongside Israel without their consultation.
"We don’t need their money — we don’t need anything," Trump asserted. "I just want loyalty."
Debate Over Jet Sales To Turkey
The summit is taking place at President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s extensive palace compound in Ankara, and Trump has suggested he might bring gifts for the Turkish leader.
On Monday morning on “Fox & Friends,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the U.S. against selling F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, citing that Erdogan "calls openly for the annihilation of Israel."
Turkey and Israel maintain strained relations. Erdogan frequently accuses Israel of committing genocide during its war in Gaza, which began following the deadly Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.
Turkey was excluded from the F-35 program in 2019 after purchasing Russian S-400 missile defense systems. Nevertheless, Trump, who maintains positive relations with Erdogan, has hinted that sales could resume before his planned visit to Ankara.
Netanyahu argued that selling F-35s to Turkey would "upset the power balance in the Middle East, which is ultimately guaranteed by Israeli air superiority and also, I think, by America’s posture in the Middle East."
Israel's Air Force relies on hundreds of U.S. fighter jets, including models such as the F-35, F-16, and F-15.
Seeking a Stronger Europe for a Stronger NATO
The central theme of the summit is fostering a stronger Europe to support a stronger NATO. The Trump administration has warned allies that they must manage European security independently as the United States concentrates on China and the Indo-Pacific region.
The Pentagon advocates for a reboot, promoting what it terms "NATO 3.0"—a concept where Europe assumes greater responsibility for its defense, allowing the U.S. to focus on other priorities.
However, increasing defense spending necessitates either higher taxes or reallocating resources from other areas. UK Defense Secretary John Healey unexpectedly resigned last month, stating the British government was unwilling to spend during a period of escalating threats.
Concerns are growing among some northern and central eastern nations that Russia may be preparing a hybrid attack—a blend of conventional warfare with tactics like cyberattacks—on the continent while Russian President Vladimir Putin seeks victory in Ukraine.
Keir Starmer’s office indicated that the British leader will focus on "building a stronger and more European NATO" during what is likely his final foreign trip as prime minister.
Starmer, who announced his resignation on June 22, has faced criticism from military leaders, opposition politicians, and some within his center-left party regarding the slow pace of increases in UK military spending.
His government has committed to meeting the NATO budget target of dedicating 3.5% of gross domestic product to defense by 2035 but lacks a concrete plan to achieve this. Its current spending projection indicates that defense spending will reach 2.7% of GDP by 2029.