NATO chief demands allies present credible plans to reach defense spending targets

By — Lorne Cook, Associated Press Lorne Cook, Associated Press By — Suzan Fraser, Associated Press Suzan Fraser, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/nato-chief-demands-allies-present-credible-plans-to-reach-defense-spending-targets Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter NATO chief demands allies present credible plans to reach defense spending targets World Jul 6, 2026 6:22 PM EDT ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday demanded that members put forward "clear, concrete and credible plans" to reach the organization's defense spending targets at its annual summit in Ankara. Rutte spoke in the Turkish capital ahead of the two-day summit starting on Tuesday at a crucial time for the alliance, with the United States scaling down its security role in Europe. Washington has been pressing allies to shoulder more of the spending burden. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. The 32 nations agreed last year to invest 5% of their gross domestic product on defense — 3.5% on their defense budgets and 1.5% on roads, bridges and ports so troops and equipment can move faster in times of conflict. Spain endorsed the goal but said it could fulfill NATO's security requirements without spending so much. Some countries are still struggling to meet the alliance's old target of 2% of GDP. Asked what would happen to members that don't have a clear plan, Rutte said: "If one or two of them still have to be convinced, we have ways to do that." He did not elaborate. Trump has called for 'loyalty' from NATO allies U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker suggested last week that the U.S. has something in store for those who do not step up, but declined to say more. "President (Donald) Trump fully expects that all allies will step up immediately and get on the path to 5% and do it with urgency," Whitaker said. On spending among European allies and Canada , Rutte said that "the evidence we see so far is impressive." He said NATO estimates that they will invest a combined $258 billion more in defense in 2025 and this year than they have in previous years. READ MORE: Canada selects German company to build submarine fleet as it boosts NATO spending But the numbers might not be enough to satisfy the Trump administration. Trump has repeatedly lashed U.S. allies over defense spending , and in the past threatened not to come to the defense of any member not doing enough — challenging NATO's key reason for existence. Trump also has called for "loyalty" from NATO allies, after some of them declined to allow the use of their military bases in the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. As well as airing grievances about how much the U.S. spends on defense compared with other countries, Trump has sparred with allies over the war, his comments about annexing Greenland and other tiffs. The Trump administrat