NATO summit exposes deepening rifts as U.S. demands unsettle allies

ANKARA, July 9– NATO leaders concluded a two-day summit on Wednesday with carefully worded pledges of unity and new arms procurement announcements. However, U.S. President Donald Trump’s pressure over defense spending, Greenland and Iran laid bare the alliance’s deepening internal rifts.

In its final declaration, NATO reaffirmed its “ironclad commitment” to collective defense under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, saying that “an attack on one is an attack on all.” It also announced more than 50 billion U.S. dollars in new arms procurements, pledged to expand collective manufacturing capacity and vowed to accelerate defense innovation.

The declaration said European allies and Canada are assuming greater responsibility for the alliance’s defense and now finance the “vast majority” of security assistance to Ukraine.

It pledged 70 billion euros (about 80 billion dollars) in military equipment, assistance, and training for Ukraine in 2026, and affirmed its commitment to maintain at least equivalent levels in 2027.

However, the summit fell short of providing a concrete roadmap for how allies would implement Washington’s demand for sharply higher military-related spending.