NATO is set to unveil billions of dollars worth of new defence contracts and military projects during its two-day summit in Ankara, in an effort to demonstrate to US President Donald Trump that alliance members are increasing defence spending and turning financial commitments into tangible military capabilities. The announcements are expected to highlight new equipment purchases, weapons programmes and security initiatives involving several NATO countries and defence companies. The showcase event, described by NATO officials as a "big reveal", will feature the announcement of major defence deals, many involving companies from the United States.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the agreements would provide critical military equipment needed to strengthen the alliance's ability to deter threats and defend member states. "We will announce tens of billions in new contracts that will provide the crucial kit we need to deter and defend," Rutte told reporters ahead of the summit. The announcements are part of NATO's broader effort to address long-standing concerns from Trump, who has repeatedly criticised alliance members for relying heavily on US military support while not contributing enough financially.

Trump has previously described NATO as a "paper tiger" and argued that the alliance would struggle without American leadership and weapons. His criticism has focused largely on defence spending commitments by European allies, despite NATO members increasing military budgets in recent years in response to growing security concerns, particularly following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ahead of the summit, Rutte attempted to highlight European and Canadian contributions through a presentation referred to as "The Trump Trillion". The chart showed that European allies and Canada had spent approximately $1.2 trillion on defence since 2017.

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However, Trump appeared unconvinced and continued to express dissatisfaction with some NATO members over their approach to global security issues. The US President also criticised allies for not joining the military campaign against Iran that he launched alongside Israel without prior consultation with NATO partners. Trump said Washington did not need financial contributions from allies but wanted greater political loyalty and support. Among the major defence initiatives expected to be highlighted at the summit is the replacement of NATO's ageing fleet of surveillance aircraft.

While NATO as an organisation does not own military weapons, it operates a fleet of Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft that are around five decades old, along with newer surveillance drones. Modernising these capabilities is seen as a priority for improving intelligence gathering and battlefield awareness. Several other defence projects are expected to receive funding through financial mechanisms established by the European Union, including a system of low-cost defence loans that could provide up to $170 billion raised through capital markets. The initiative is aimed at helping European countries accelerate military production and strengthen defence industries.

Rutte said NATO must ensure that economic strength is converted into practical military capability, including drones, missiles, defence systems and interceptors. The summit is being held at Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's presidential compound in Ankara, with Trump expected to attend and potentially discuss bilateral issues with the Turkish leader. The defence announcements are intended to send a message of unity and preparedness within NATO while addressing pressure from Washington for greater burden-sharing. The summit comes at a time when alliance members are attempting to balance increased military spending with ongoing debates over strategy, security commitments and the future role of the United States in European defence.

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