Key facts
- President Donald Trump stated the U.S. spends more on NATO than any other member without benefit.
- Trump posted comparative spending figures: U.S. $999 billion, UK $90.5 billion, France $66.5 billion, Italy $48.8 billion, Poland $44.3 billion.
- Trump claimed Germany's contribution is 'MUCH LOWER' than other allies.
- He stated that the U.S. relationship with NATO is 'not reciprocal' and allies 'were not there for us'.
- Trump's remarks were made on social media ahead of an upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on social media that the United States spends more money on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) than any other member state, asserting that the U.S. receives 'any benefit' from this expenditure. Trump posted these remarks on Truth Social, listing comparative spending figures for the U.S., United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Poland, and noting that Germany's contribution is 'MUCH LOWER.'
His comments come ahead of a NATO summit scheduled for next week in Ankara, Turkey. The Trump administration has been actively pressuring NATO allies to increase their financial and security contributions, a stance consistent with its calls for greater 'burden-sharing' from allies.
Despite NATO members having committed to spending at least 3.5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) annually on core defense expenditures by 2035, Trump's remarks suggest he believes these contributions are still insufficient. The Pentagon's National Defense Strategy also indicates a prioritization of allies taking primary responsibility for their own defense with limited U.S. support.
Trump also voiced his dissatisfaction with the perceived lack of support from NATO and other allies for U.S. military operations, specifically mentioning the campaign against Iran.