Donald Trump appears poised to further strain relations with his NATO allies as he heads to Ankara for the upcoming NATO summit. According to a Washington Post analysis, Trump is attending the summit only at the personal invitation of his friend, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan — not out of commitment to the alliance itself. Trump has made no secret of his frustration with NATO policies, and allies are bracing for yet another difficult encounter.
A Summit Under Pressure
The Washington Post notes that Trump continues to insist European members aren’t contributing enough to collective defense — despite significant increases in defense spending across the continent in recent years. Advisers say he enjoys pressuring NATO leaders and takes satisfaction in watching them scramble to meet his demands.
Main summit activities are scheduled for Wednesday and deliberately kept brief, aiming to minimize the risk of unpredictable confrontations. Trump is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Erdoğan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s interim president.
Concerns Over Unpredictability
While NATO officials don’t anticipate renewed threats from Trump to withdraw the U.S. from the alliance — as he did in 2018 — there is widespread concern over his erratic approach. European diplomats suggest much will hinge on Trump’s mood upon arrival in Turkey.
In an effort to appease the White House, allies plan to highlight concrete progress: $139 billion in additional defense spending last year and new agreements on joint arms procurement programs. Still, Trump’s ongoing friction with the alliance has overshadowed critical agenda items — including the war in Ukraine and NATO’s broader strategy toward Russia. Diplomats acknowledge that, despite cautious optimism, “things can easily go off the rails.”