The 6 NATO allies in danger of Trump’s defense spending backlash

NATO allies are set to face scrutiny over defense spending commitments as Secretary-General Mark Rutte presents a classified assessment during a meeting of defense ministers in Ankara next month. The review evaluates progress toward the alliance’s goal of spending 5% of GDP on defense by 2035, a target pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Six NATO members risk backlash from Trump if they fail to meet the benchmark, according to three NATO diplomats. The assessment comes as European governments aim to demonstrate increased defense responsibility amid reduced U.S. military contributions to NATO. The meeting follows Trump’s repeated demands for allies to contribute more to shared security, particularly as Washington reduces its deployment of jets, destroyers, and submarines in Europe. European leaders are under pressure to bridge the gap between their pledges and actual defense investments, which remain significantly below the 2035 target for several countries. The classified report will examine each nation’s military spending plans, highlighting discrepancies between stated commitments and financial realities. The review underscores the alliance’s delicate balance between U.S. expectations and European capacity to fund defense independently. With Trump continuing to emphasize burden-sharing, the assessment could influence future U.S. support for NATO operations and funding. European governments are racing to address the shortfall before the next evaluation, fearing potential consequences from Washington.