Brussels: NATO leaders have announced arms agreements worth tens of billions of dollars during a summit in Turkey, signalling a stronger commitment to boosting Europe’s defence capabilities in response to growing global security challenges.
The announcements underscore the alliance’s efforts to answer repeated calls from US President Donald Trump for European nations to increase their defence spending and reduce reliance on the United States for security.
NATO steps up defence spending
The newly unveiled defence agreements include significant investments in military equipment and weapons systems aimed at strengthening NATO’s collective security. The move reflects growing concerns over regional and global threats and highlights the alliance’s intention to improve military preparedness.
Several member nations reaffirmed their commitment to increasing defence budgets, aligning with NATO’s long-standing target of spending at least 2 per cent of GDP on defence.
Trump says allies are responding
President Trump welcomed the increased military spending but said he still felt disappointed that some allies had taken years to respond to US demands. He reiterated that European countries should continue investing more in their own security rather than depending heavily on American support.
Trump has consistently argued that a stronger financial commitment from NATO members would create a more balanced and effective alliance.
Greenland remains part of Trump’s agenda
Alongside discussions on NATO, Trump renewed his push to bring Greenland under US control, reviving a proposal that has attracted international attention in recent years.
While the idea has been firmly rejected by Greenland and Denmark in the past, Trump maintained that the Arctic island holds significant strategic and security value due to its location and natural resources.
The summit highlighted both NATO’s growing defence ambitions and continuing geopolitical debates, with Europe’s security and Arctic strategy remaining high on the international agenda.