Nato is set to unveil a series of multibillion-pound military projects in an effort to show US President Donald Trump that its allies are increasing defence spending.
At an event dubbed the “big reveal” in Turkey on Tuesday, several Nato leaders are expected to announce new defence deals worth billions of pounds with arms manufacturers, many of them based in the US.
The move comes after Trump branded Nato a “paper tiger”, arguing the alliance would struggle to function without American military leadership and weapons.
“We will announce tens of billions in new contracts that will provide the crucial kit we need to deter and defend,” Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters on the eve of the military alliance’s two-day summit.
The defence industry splash comes a few weeks after Rutte tried to ease US concerns about military spending at Nato with a new pitch using a chart labelled the “The Trump Trillion” – showing $1.2 trillion (around £897 billion) in spending by European allies and Canada since 2017.
Far from being impressed, Trump appeared unmoved, saying he was still disappointed at some Nato allies’ refusal to join the Iran war, which he had launched alongside Israel without consulting the alliance in advance.
“We don’t need their money – we don’t need anything,” Trump said. “I just want loyalty.”
Among the contracts expected to be unveiled is a contract to replace Nato’s ageing fleet of airborne surveillance aircraft.
Many of the agreements were negotiated, and in some cases signed, well before the summit.
Although Nato does not own weapons itself, relying instead on those of its 32 member states, it does operate a fleet of around 50-year-old AWACS surveillance aircraft as well as newer surveillance drones.
Several other projects are expected to be funded through the European Union’s defence loan programme, which can raise up to $170 billion (around £126 billion) on capital markets to help member states invest in military capabilities.
“We need to ensure that we are translating our economic might into military capabilities, putting the cash to work from defence plans to drones, from money to missiles and interceptors,” Rutte said.
The summit will focus on building a stronger European pillar within Nato, after the Trump administration warned allies they must take greater responsibility for Europe’s security while the US shifts its attention towards China and the Indo-Pacific.
The United States Department of Defence has promoted what it calls “Nato 3.0”, a vision for the alliance in which European members shoulder more of the burden for their own defence, allowing Washington to focus on other strategic priorities.
However, increasing defence spending would require many governments to either raise taxes or divert money from other public services.
Last month, former Defence Secretary John Healey unexpectedly resigned, saying the government was unwilling to increase military spending despite growing security threats.
Meanwhile, concern is growing among several northern, central and eastern European countries that Vladimir Putin could authorise a hybrid attack on the continent, combining conventional military action with tactics such as cyberattacks, as Russia continues its war in Ukraine.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would be “focused on building a stronger and more European Nato” during what is expected to be his final overseas trip as prime minister.
The summit is being held at President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s presidential palace in Ankara, where Trump has suggested he could arrive bearing gifts for the Turkish leader.
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