The recent NATO summit in Turkiye highlighted significant trans-Atlantic rifts, experts say, noting that Washington's increasingly transactional approach to its allies is making the alliance more utilitarian and conditional.
While trans-Atlantic security cooperation will continue under the NATO umbrella, contention over core issues, including defense industrial leadership and defense spending priorities, is set to intensify in the foreseeable future, they said.
NATO members unveiled tens of billions of dollars in new arms contracts at the Ankara summit, aiming to demonstrate the commitment to increasing military spending as per the United States' demands.
However, US President Donald Trump remained critical of them, complaining about disproportionate US spending in the alliance, criticizing allies for not backing the Iran war, and reiterating his interest in acquiring Greenland. Nevertheless, in a stark reversal, Trump concluded the two-day gathering by praising NATO's "unity" and calling the summit a success.
A renewed commitment to the bloc's collective defense principle in the summit declaration is also seen as a key victory.
