The NATO Secretary General calls on allies to submit credible plans to reach defense spending targets

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday called on members to present “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 that begins on Tuesday at a critical time for the alliance, with the United States reducing its security role in Europe. Washington is pressuring its allies to bear more of the spending burden.

The 32 countries agreed last year to invest 5% of their gross domestic product in defence – 3.5% in their defense budgets and 1.5% on roads, bridges and ports so troops and equipment can move faster in times of conflict.

Spain supported this goal but said it could meet NATO’s security requirements without spending much. Some countries are still struggling to meet the coalition’s old target of 2% of GDP.

Asked what would happen to members who did not 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 go into details.

Trump called for “loyalty” from NATO allies

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker suggested last week that the US has something in store for those who do not come forward, but declined to say more.

“President (Donald) Trump fully expects all allies to step in immediately and get on the path toward 5% and do so with urgency,” Whitaker said.

Regarding spending between European allies and Canada, Rutte said that “the evidence we are seeing so far is impressive.” He said NATO estimates that they will invest an additional $258 billion in defense in 2025 and this year than they invested in previous years.

Read more: Canada chooses German company to build submarine fleet because it boosts NATO spending

But the numbers may not be enough to satisfy the Trump administration. Trump has repeatedly criticized US allies over defense spending, and in the past has threatened not to stand up for any member that does not do its best — challenging NATO’s primary raison d’être.

Trump also called on allies in NATO to be “loyalty”, after some of them refused to allow their military bases to be used in the US-Israeli war on Iran. In addition to airing grievances about how much the United States spends on defense compared to other countries, Trump has sparred with allies over the war, his comments about the annexation of Greenland and other squabbles.

The Trump administration is promoting what it calls “NATO 3.0,” a vision under which Europe would assume greater responsibility for its own defense, freeing the United States to focus on other priorities. The approach was put forward earlier this year by Elbridge Colby, the US Undersecretary of Defence, during a meeting of NATO defense ministers.

“We need our NATO allies to step up and take leadership roles, and I mean that not just through loud encouragement but also through the moral authority and moral compass of the alliance,” Whittaker said last week.

European allies warn of a possible Russian attack

Some European governments have warned that Russia may be preparing for a hybrid attack somewhere on the continent as Russian President Vladimir Putin struggles to achieve victory in Ukraine.

NATO is scheduled to issue announcements on Tuesday showcasing military equipment purchased with billions of dollars spent on defense and security. This event was called the “big reveal.”

Among the projects, many of which were prepared and signed long before the summit, is one to replace NATO’s aging fleet of surveillance aircraft.

NATO as an organization does not have any weapons – they are the property of member states – but it does have a fleet of AWACS aircraft that are around 50 years old and some reconnaissance drones.

In a report released on Monday, the European Stability Mechanism – a financial institution set up to help countries using the euro currency in severe financial distress – said NATO’s defense spending target was achievable but would need to be approached carefully.

He warned that Europe’s defense boost, which will largely use short-term debt financing, is turning into “one of the central fiscal policy issues of this decade.”

NATO governments are struggling to raise their defense spending, which requires raising taxes or reallocating resources from other priorities.

British Defense Secretary John Healey resigned unexpectedly last month because he said the government was not prepared to spend at a time of increasing threats.