Trump touts NATO strength ahead of Ankara summit, credits his pressure on allies

Trump shared an op-ed highlighting $1.2 trillion in new European and Canadian defense spending since 2017, calling it proof that his demand for fair burden-sharing worked.

First Published: July 7, 2026, 3:59 PM EST

WHITE HOUSE — Donald Trump has mentioned the source (see washingtonexaminer) that NATO is stronger because he demanded more from allies, on a Truth Social post on July 7, 2026 at 10:51 AM EST.

Here is the full post on [truthsocial]: “Thank you! NATO is stronger because Trump demanded more: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/op-eds/4.6 million/shared-security-interests-nato-stronger-because-trump-demanded-more/”

The op-ed Trump shared was published by the Washington Examiner ahead of the NATO summit set to take place next week in Ankara, Turkey. The piece credits Trump with forcing allied nations to increase their defense spending, citing $1.2 trillion in new defense investments by Europe and Canada since Trump first took office in 2017. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called the surge the “Trump Trillion,” the article said (see washingtonexaminer).

Allied leaders last year agreed at a summit in The Hague to a new standard of spending 5 percent of gross domestic product on defense and defense-related investments, replacing a target that many countries had treated as a ceiling rather than a floor (see washingtonexaminer). The op-ed argued that increased European and Canadian spending has flowed toward American-made defense equipment, supporting more than 112,000 American jobs, with another 83,000 U.S. jobs supported through investments by European defense companies in the United States.

The article also addressed the war in Ukraine, noting that through Trump’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, known as the PURL initiative, European allies have taken a greater role in funding Ukraine’s defense. War Secretary Pete Hegseth has said Trump’s approach is producing real progress, the piece said (see washingtonexaminer).

The op-ed acknowledged some allies disappointed on the Iran front, singling out Spain, but said most eventually rose to the challenge. NATO Secretary General Rutte noted that between 4,000 and 5,000 U.S. aircraft sorties supported Operation Epic Fury from bases across Europe, a reminder that the alliance continues to deliver when it matters most (see washingtonexaminer).

Trump’s post comes as NATO prepares to convene 32 member nations in Ankara, where the alliance is expected to announce tens of billions of dollars in new defense contracts. The op-ed urged leaders to use the summit to increase pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin and reaffirm the defense commitments made in The Hague.

In the last 30 days, 77 of 552 Trump posts on Truth Social were on the topic of foreign policy, according to a Zenger analysis of a real-time database of all Truth Social posts (see truthsocial).