NATO leaders introduced major arms deals worth tens of billions of dollars in Turkey, emphasizing the need to increase spending to defend Europe ahead of a summit with President Donald Trump. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced initiatives at a defense industry forum in Ankara, highlighting the urgency for military capabilities given military spending by Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. He called for a “defence industry revolution” and urged Western arms manufacturers and governments to invest more and facilitate growth in the defense sector.
Europe’s defense industry has faced criticism for being fragmented, making it heavily dependent on U. S. weapons. Economic challenges and the need for social welfare have also made defense spending difficult to justify in Europe. The newly announced deals include European countries purchasing surveillance drones from Northrop Grumman and NATO acquiring planes from Saab, boosting Saab’s stock significantly. Additionally, U. S. defense company Lockheed Martin and Germany’s Rheinmetall are drafting a deal to co-produce ATACMS missiles in Germany, marking the first non-U. S. production of this short-range missile.
Rutte stated that NATO allies will invest over $40 billion in anti-drone capabilities over the next five years. These announcements come in response to Trump’s consistent criticism of European nations for not contributing enough to their defense under NATO, which has been a protective alliance since the Cold War. Trump, during his visit, is expected to tell Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan about a possible return for Turkey to the F-35 stealth fighter program after being removed due to its purchase of a Russian defense system.
Rutte noted that European NATO members and Canada are expected to spend $90 billion more on defense in real terms by 2025, totaling over $570 billion, partly due to fears stemming from Russia’s actions and Trump’s strong encouragement. Tensions within NATO have increased following the U. S. attack on Iran, with Trump criticizing NATO members for inadequate support. European officials are prepared for continued criticism from Trump and acknowledge uncertainty about the summit’s outcomes, especially given recent tensions between Trump and various leaders. At the summit, NATO members plan to reaffirm support for Ukraine, pledging €70 billion in assistance by 2026. Meanwhile, Russia’s military actions continue to pose a threat, as evidenced by recent attacks on Ukraine.
With information from Reuters
