Whitaker Casts NATO 5% Spending Strains as Growing Pains Ahead of Ankara Summit
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jul 6
Whitaker Casts NATO 5% Spending Strains as Growing Pains Ahead of Ankara Summit
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jul 6
Summary
Matthew Whitaker said friction over NATO defense spending is not a crisis but part of a transition in which Europe takes over more of the continent’s conventional defense.
Ahead of Tuesday-Wednesday talks in Ankara, he said Washington is “not going away” but will do less, while lagging allies must raise spending over the next decade.
The pressure campaign follows last year’s Hague agreement to target 5% of GDP on defense by 2035, including 3.5% for core military spending.
Mark Rutte backed regular spending reviews and said the summit should turn pledges into capabilities, with tens of billions of dollars in new contracts expected.
The meeting comes after Pete Hegseth launched a June review of U.S. forces in Europe, sharpening a broader NATO debate over burden shifting away from Washington.