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American pressure occurs before the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where leaders are expected to discuss military readiness, deterrence, and spending division. Poland leads investments, with about 4.48% of GDP, while the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Canada still appear further from the 5% target.
The pressure from the United States on NATO has returned to the center of the debate before the alliance’s summit in Ankara, Turkey. The Donald Trump administration wants allies to accelerate spending towards the 5% GDP defense target.
The NATO summit in Ankara takes place on July 7 and 8, 2026.
The topic is expected to dominate conversations among leaders, who will discuss military readiness, deterrence, and division of responsibilities. American officials indicated that countries slow in fulfilling future commitments may face consequences.
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Washington demands immediate progress from allies
The United States ambassador to NATO, Matt Whitaker, stated that some members have advanced, while others lag behind. He cited Poland, Nordic, and Baltic countries as examples of allies leading the movement.
Whitaker said that Donald Trump expects all members to “take action immediately” and advance to the 5% GDP target, without waiting for the 2035 deadline set by the alliance.
The demand comes as European governments expand budgets since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Even so, investments remain different among alliance countries.
NATO has a large spending difference among members
Recent NATO estimates show a gap among allies. Poland leads, with about 4.48% of GDP allocated to defense. Lithuania follows, with 4%.
Latvia, Estonia, and Norway are also among the countries closest to the 5% benchmark. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom invests about 2.4% of GDP in defense.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an additional £15 billion for the Armed Forces, aiming to reach 2.7% by 2029. Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Canada remain closer to the 2% parameter adopted in 2014.
The target approved by NATO envisions countries moving towards 5% of GDP in defense-related spending by 2035. The calculation includes 3.5% for core needs, such as equipment purchases, and 1.5% for security-related areas.
This second part involves the protection of critical infrastructure, innovation, and strengthening the defense industrial base. For Washington, progress needs to happen at an accelerated pace.
How the alliance’s financing works
The majority of NATO’s military capability comes from national budgets. Each member pays for their own Armed Forces and purchases necessary equipment. These troops can support operations when requested.
Additionally, there are common budgets, used in projects that benefit all members. They finance NATO headquarters, the military command structure, and shared infrastructures.
Countries contribute to these funds through a formula based on gross national income. The common budgets total about €4.6 billion in 2025 and could reach €5.3 billion in 2026.
Summit should reinforce military readiness
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that the meeting will show Europeans and Canadians taking greater responsibility for conventional defense alongside the United States. He said the alliance will remain transatlantic but needs to be rebalanced.
The meeting also takes place after a Pentagon review of the American military presence in Europe. U.S. officials have not detailed changes but argue that higher spending would strengthen European security.
Why the division of spending matters
NATO functions as a military alliance where collective strength depends on the capability of each member.
When countries invest in their own Armed Forces, purchase equipment, and keep troops ready, they increase the joint response capability in crises.
The common budgets, on the other hand, support structures that serve everyone, such as command, headquarters, and shared infrastructure. Therefore, the discussion about GDP percentages is not just accounting. It defines how much each government contributes to maintaining collective defense, reducing internal imbalances, and strengthening the alliance’s readiness.
With information from interestingengineering.
