All NATO members reaffirmed their commitment to the alliance, despite Trump repeatedly calling it a 'paper tiger'
The defence alliance of 32 countries that is NATO has repeatedly been derided by Donald Trump, who has both threatened to invade allied territories and cast doubt over the US commitment to Article 5 – the crucial mutual defence clause that forms the basis of the treaty.
Yet despite the US president’s scorn and acerbic rebuke of other members, this week’s summit in Ankara has produced an “ironclad commitment to our collective defence under Article 5”, a result that will bring relief to many who feared Trump would exacerbate tensions further.
And although Trump has previously upbraided Europe and Canada for not spending enough on their defence, Wednesday’s declaration recognises that “Allies are delivering on The Hague defence commitment” to boost broad defence spending to 5% by 2035 and sees allies committing “to expanding collective manufacturing capacity and working with industry to accelerate innovation”.
There is no clear mention of the next NATO summit in the declaration, which should be held in Albania in 2027.
