NATO Unveils Major Arms Deals as Trump Presses Allies on Defense Spending

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – NATO allies unveiled a sweeping package of new arms agreements Tuesday as President Donald Trump arrived in Ankara for a two-day summit expected to focus heavily on defense spending, burden-sharing, and the alliance’s continued support for Ukraine.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the new agreements, announced during a defense industry forum on the sidelines of the summit, were designed to strengthen the alliance’s ability to deter threats and defend its member states. The deals include the planned purchase of advanced surveillance aircraft and drones, along with major investments in counter-drone capabilities.

“We can do more when we do it together. And we must do more of it,” Rutte said, emphasizing that multinational procurement coalitions would help allies acquire critical capabilities more efficiently.

Among the announced agreements, NATO allies plan to purchase up to five MQ-4C Triton high-altitude surveillance drones from Northrop Grumman, with Norway, Finland, Germany, and Denmark signing a letter of intent for the acquisition. The drones are expected to strengthen NATO’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capacity.

NATO also announced plans to acquire new airborne early warning and control aircraft, with Sweden’s GlobalEye platform selected to replace aging radar surveillance planes that have been in service for roughly five decades. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said the GlobalEye system would “contribute greatly” to NATO’s collective defense needs.

Rutte said NATO allies also intend to invest more than $40 billion over the next five years to improve counter-drone defenses, reflecting growing concern over the expanding role of unmanned systems in modern warfare.

The summit comes one year after NATO members agreed to increase defense and security-related spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product. Under that framework, allies committed to spending at least 3.5 percent of GDP annually on core defense requirements by 2035, while dedicating another 1.5 percent to critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, civil preparedness, innovation, and defense industrial capacity.

Trump, who has repeatedly pressed European allies to carry more of the burden, is expected to seek progress reports from NATO members on their commitments. His pressure has reshaped the alliance’s spending debate, though it has also strained relations with some European leaders who have questioned Washington’s long-term commitment to NATO.

Those tensions deepened after the U.S.-Israeli bombardment of Iran, when several European allies were reluctant to provide air bases or other assistance in the effort to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Still, NATO leaders are expected to reaffirm support for Ukraine during the summit. Rutte said the alliance must ensure Kyiv continues receiving the weapons and equipment it needs, arguing that Ukraine’s security remains closely tied to the security of NATO’s own member states.

Trump was greeted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Etimesgut Air Base before beginning meetings with allied leaders. He is also scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa before departing Ankara on Wednesday.

F-35 Sale to Turkey Draws Israeli Opposition

The summit also comes amid growing expectations that Trump may move to restore Turkey’s access to the U.S.-built F-35 stealth fighter program, a step that would mark a major diplomatic victory for Erdogan but has triggered strong opposition from Israel.

Turkey was removed from the F-35 program after its 2019 purchase of Russia’s S-400 air defense system, which Washington said posed a threat to sensitive U.S. military technology. Any renewed sale would still face legal and congressional obstacles while Ankara retains the Russian system.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned against allowing Ankara to receive F-35 aircraft or related fighter jet components, arguing that such a move could undermine Israel’s military edge in the Middle East. Israeli officials have also expressed concern over Erdogan’s increasingly hostile posture toward Jerusalem and Ankara’s broader regional ambitions.

The dispute places Trump in a delicate position as he seeks to strengthen NATO unity, rebuild ties with Turkey, and preserve America’s longstanding commitment to Israel’s qualitative military advantage in the region.

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