Allies in Ankara for talks, defense deals

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful says defense spending is going in the right direction, amid sharp criticism from US President Donald Trump that NATO allies are not paying their share.

“We’re looking at the numbers and they’re pointing upward,” Wadefull told Germany’s Deutschlandfunk radio.

The NATO allies last year committed to increasing defense spending from 2% of national GDP to 3.5% by 2035.

Wadefull said Germany is on track to achieve that goal by the end of the decade.

“We are spending more than many of our partners,” he stressed. “What Germany is doing is also being seen in Washington.”

The US spends by far the most on defense among NATO allies, with $980 billion (€857.5 billion) to be spent in 2025.

According to Statista data, after this Germany is at second place with $ 93.75 billion and United Kingdom is at second place with $ 90.51 billion.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte expressed optimism Monday that European NATO allies and Canada are “on the path to equalizing their defense spending” with the United States, as President Donald Trump continues to lambast the allies for reportedly spending too little.

Rutte said “the evidence we have seen so far is impressive” with projections suggesting the allies will invest a combined $258 billion (€226 billion) more in defense in 2025 and 2026 than in previous years.

Read more about NATO’s spending targets in this DW article.

As NATO leaders meet in Ankara, Türkiye’s growing strategic importance is bolstering President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s influence. But does the country’s important role in the coalition give Erdogan more room to maneuver at home?

The leaders of NATO’s 32 member states and key partners will meet in The Hague to review progress made on commitments since the 2025 summit, as well as draw up a roadmap to continue achieving NATO’s key objectives.

On Tuesday, there will be a large-scale defense industry forum to help allies align their budgets with defense capabilities, as well as improve cooperation with partners such as South Korea.

NATO foreign and defense ministers are also scheduled to hold informal talks over dinner. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the event as he seeks continued support and commitment from allies amid Russia’s ongoing aggression.

On Wednesday, NATO leaders will reconvene for talks focused on Europe taking greater responsibility for its own defense as the US turns its attention to the Pacific and other regions.

Ahead of the summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that NATO allies, “along with Ukraine, the EU, Indo-Pacific and Gulf partners, will gather here in Ankara to ensure that NATO continues to deliver. The allies have already shown that they are stepping up in a big way.”

“In NATO we are stronger together with our partners to ensure the freedom and security that we all hold dear,” Rutte said in a post on Twitter.

NATO allies are gathering in the Turkish capital Ankara for two days of talks on defense spending and arms purchases.

At last year’s summit in The Hague, under pressure from US President Donald Trump, the allies agreed to a substantial increase in defense spending from 2% to 5% of gross domestic product by 2035.

US leaders will be among those attending, and despite commitments last year, the alliance still remains in their sights after European allies banned US forces from using bases to attack Iran.

On Tuesday morning there is a large-scale military industry forum, followed by a keynote speech by NATO chief Mark Rutte.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is hosting the talks at the Beystep Presidential Compound on the western edge of Ankara.

The summit comes amid Russia’s continued full-scale invasion of Ukraine and a fragile ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.

Stay tuned to our updates as we bring you the latest news and analysis from the NATO summit.