Nato summit delivers unity and billions in defence deals, Rutte says

Lead

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday hailed this year's summit in Ankara as a demonstration of "a huge sense of unity" and announced procurement plans worth over US$50 billion as part of the alliance's drive to meet a 5 per cent of GDP defence spending target by 2035. The deals, agreed during the North Atlantic Council meeting of leaders, span deep precision strike, integrated air and missile defence, uncrewed systems, and advanced intelligence capabilities.

Rutte said the gathering produced €70 billion (US$80 billion) in pledges for military equipment, assistance, and training for Ukraine, alongside "unwavering support" for the country. He asserted that the alliance is "stronger than ever" and "united and ready to defend every edge of our territory," reaffirming the "ironclad commitment to collective defence under Article 5" that an attack on one member is an attack on all.

The summit, however, unfolded against a backdrop of friction between the United States and its allies, with US President Donald Trump's criticism of NATO and his expectations of loyalty dominating discussions. Trump had called the transatlantic relationship "one-sided" and "not reciprocal," writing that allies "were not there for us." The comments came after several allies refused to support US-led strikes against Iran.

Coverage Comparison

The summit's coverage reflects differing focuses. Al Jazeera's reporting emphasised the overshadowing of the summit by the US-Israel war on Iran, noting that the US had called on European allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a request they refused. BBC — World's reports highlighted Rutte's confidence in NATO's strength while also questioning whether unity truly exists, with journalist Frank Gardner noting Trump's "verbal grenades." South China Morning Post focused on Rutte's defence of Trump and the alliance's procurement plans, describing "a great sense of unity" and welcoming Trump's leadership as "transforming" and making NATO "stronger." The Hindu — World provided a broader analysis, tracing NATO's history and framing the alliance as facing challenges from both external threats like Russia and internal strains attributed to Trump's presidency.

Key Claims

• Defence spending and procurement: Rutte announced that the summit resulted in over US$50 billion in procurement deals, with allies pledging €70 billion (US$80 billion) in support for Ukraine. The targeted defence spending of 5% of GDP by 2035, agreed at last year's summit, was a central theme. European allies and Canada have increased defence investment by $139 billion in 2025 alone, according to NATO.
• US-Israel war on Iran: The conflict hung over the summit, with the US seeking European help in securing the Strait of Hormuz, a request refused by some allies. Rutte, however, argued that US operations against Iran, such as Operation Epic Fury, could not have been conducted to the same extent without using Europe as a power projection platform.
• Trump's criticisms: Trump expressed disappointment that NATO did not join the war with Iran, reiterating his view that the US gets a poor return from its investment in NATO. He also called Spain "a terrible partner" and reiterated his interest in controlling Greenland.
• Defence spending commitments: Only five of NATO's 32 members are on track to meet the 5% of GDP spending target by 2026, as reported by multiple outlets. Additionally, a single source claims the US plans to pull a third of its fighter jets provided to NATO in Europe, along with reallocating a submarine and an aircraft carrier.
• US force reduction: The Pentagon announced the withdrawal of about 5,000 troops from Germany on May 1, following a review of its force posture in Europe.

Perspectives

Mark Rutte: The Secretary General insisted that Trump is "completely committed" to NATO, arguing that the US president's criticism reflects a desire for allies to share more of the burden. He maintained that the summit demonstrated unity and that the alliance is prepared to defend all of its territory.

US President Donald Trump: Trump criticised NATO allies for not contributing enough financially and for not supporting the US action against Iran. He described the relationship as non-reciprocal and expressed disappointment, while also acknowledging what he called "unification" at the Ankara meeting.

Analysts and Critics: Some analysts, such as Ian Lesser of the German Marshall Fund, acknowledged the alliance is not at a breaking point but is "entering a period of profound adjustment." BBC's Frank Gardner questioned the claimed unity in light of Trump's comments.