Trump lands in Ankara as NATO unveils new defence projects to win him over ahead of summit
President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara for the NATO summit as the alliance unveiled a series of billion-dollar arms deals aimed at showing Washington that European allies are strengthening their own defence capabilities.
President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara on Tuesday afternoon for the NATO summit, as the alliance announced billions of dollars in arms deals in what appeared to be an effort to win over the US leader, according to AP.
Trump, who has previously criticised European allies for underspending on defence, was expected to first meet Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a close ally hosting this year's summit, who greeted him warmly at a local air base, the report said.
NATO's ‘big reveal’ of new projects
Earlier in the day, NATO showcased a series of military projects worth billions of dollars, which Secretary-General Mark Rutte called "money well spent," AP reported. Since NATO as an organisation does not own weapons, which remain the property of its 32 member countries, the alliance currently relies on an ageing fleet of AWACS surveillance aircraft, the report noted.
Quick answers to key questions
Trump's arrival in Ankara is significant as it highlights the ongoing tensions and negotiations within NATO, especially regarding defense spending and Turkey's position in the alliance.
Turkey was expelled from the F-35 program because it acquired the Russian S-400 air defense system, which posed security risks in operating alongside NATO's advanced aircraft.
NATO is funding new defense projects through a European Union scheme offering cheap defense loans, potentially raising up to $170 billion on capital markets.
If Trump reverses the F-35 ban for Turkey, he may face significant legal challenges from Congress, which has passed laws prohibiting the sale until Turkey no longer possesses the S-400 system.
Trump criticized European NATO members for not spending enough on defense and expressed disappointment with their support during conflicts, urging them to accelerate military investments.
A deal to replace these planes was announced on Tuesday, with Swedish manufacturer Saab set to supply up to 10 new GlobalEye surveillance aircraft for a 10-nation consortium, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said, according to AP. Some of these projects, the report added, will be funded through a European Union scheme offering cheap defence loans, worth up to $170 billion raised on capital markets. Rutte was quoted as saying the alliance needed to convert its economic strength into military capability.
According to AP, representatives from 15 nations announced a joint effort to buy air-to-air refuelling and transport planes from Airbus, while Rutte separately announced a four-country plan to acquire new Triton surveillance drones. Rutte had earlier said the alliance would unveil tens of billions of dollars in new contracts, though no specific figures were disclosed at Tuesday's event, and some projects had reportedly been agreed upon earlier.
AP noted that the showcase follows Rutte's recent attempt to ease US concerns using a chart labelled the "Trump Trillion", highlighting $1.2 trillion in defence spending by European allies and Canada since 2017. Trump, however, appeared unconvinced, reportedly saying he remained unhappy that some allies had declined to join the Iran conflict he had launched with Israel, adding that he wanted loyalty rather than money.
The report also noted debate over a possible resumption of F-35 jet sales to Turkey, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging Washington against it, and continuing discussions on Ukraine's push for NATO membership, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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