NATO announces billions in arms deals to prove its firepower as Trump arrives in Ankara for summit
NATO said Tuesday it will buy new surveillance planes and announce defense deals worth “tens of billions” of dollars as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan greeted President Trump on the tarmac for the alliance’s two-day summit in Ankara, Turkey.
Mr. Trump smiled broadly and exchanged pleasantries with his host at Etimesgut Air Base before heading inside for meetings with key allies.
Mr. Trump has ruffled feathers among NATO partners, who at times fear the U.S. leader is not fully committed to the alliance.
They also felt caught off-guard by the U.S.-Israeli bombardment of Iran, while Mr. Trump chafed at European allies’ reluctance to provide air bases and other assistance in his war to prevent Tehran from getting a nuclear weapon.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte speaks during …
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The president says he is the one who solidified NATO by prodding each member to meet last year’s commitment to increase defense and defense-related spending to at least 5% of their gross domestic product.
Mr. Trump is expected to seek a progress report on each country’s commitment to that goal.
SEE ALSO: Ukraine, Iran shadow high-stakes NATO summit as Trump leans on allies, embraces Erdogan
Hoping to show its commitment to spending, NATO announced a deal Tuesday to replace early warning radar surveillance planes that are around 50 years old.
“I am proud that NATO has chosen the Swedish platform GlobalEye as the Alliance’s new platform for airborne early warning and control,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on X. “GlobalEye will contribute greatly to core needs for our collective defense.”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the alliance planned to announce a series of defense deals worth “tens of billions.”
Mr. Trump is scheduled to meet with Mr. Erdogan on Tuesday and engage in other meetings.
President Donald Trump walks with Turkish …
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On Wednesday, he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa before his scheduled news conference and departure.
