NATO summit in Ankara: Trump shifts spending demands to demand for loyalty

On the eve of the NATO summit, to be held July 7–8 at the Beştepe presidential complex in Ankara, Secretary General Mark Rutte faces the toughest test of his nearly two years in the post: keeping the United States in the alliance while President Trump shifts his focus from defense spending demands to something far harder to measure — loyalty.

From money to loyalty

Rutte’s approach to managing Trump has traditionally relied on flattery and financial metrics. At a White House meeting in late June, the former Dutch prime minister presented a chart bearing the words “Trump’s Trillion” in gold letters, crediting the president with securing roughly €1 trillion in cumulative additional defense spending by European allies and Canada since 2017. Rutte argued that these funds reflect a historic shift in burden-sharing, achieved through Trump’s pressure across both of his presidential terms.

Trump, however, was unmoved. The president told reporters he was disappointed by NATO allies’ refusal to support a US-led military operation against Iran, launched jointly with Israel without consulting European partners.

“I just need loyalty,” Trump said, according to the Associated Press.

Erdoğan’s role

Trump hinted that he might skip the summit altogether if it were not being hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan reinforced this account, stating that Trump’s participation was made possible by Turkey’s role as host. This dynamic underscores both the personal warmth between Erdoğan and Trump and the fragility of the US commitment to the alliance.

The summit will be the first visit by a sitting US president to Turkey since 2015. Erdoğan is expected to use the occasion to present himself as a global mediator capable of bridging the gap between Washington and its European partners.

What is at stake in Ankara

Despite the tensions, NATO ambassadors have already agreed on a draft declaration in which leaders, including Trump, will reaffirm an “ironclad commitment” to collective defense under Article 5, Reuters reports. Allies also intend to pledge €70 billion in military aid to Ukraine for 2026.

A defense industry forum, to be held on the first day of the summit, will focus on progress toward NATO’s 5% defense spending target. Nevertheless, the official agenda may be overshadowed by the unresolved question of whether financial commitments alone can satisfy a president who now wants something more personal. As one Just Security analyst noted on the eve of Ankara, the question is simple: “Will Trump want to take this win?”