*** big priority is tackling the Russia-Ukraine war. Today President Trump is scheduled to meet face to face with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. This comes as Zelensky tries to focus President Trump’s attention back to the conflict with Moscow. On Monday, Russia launched *** wave of deadly attacks against Ukraine, underscoring Kiev’s need for more US-made missiles, something Zelensky will likely. Bring up. There is also *** real concern NATO countries in Europe could be targeted next if the Kremlin succeeds against Ukraine. Another point worth keeping an eye on President Trump will also likely voice frustrations about contributions to NATO. He feels the US is not getting *** lot in return, often saying NATO should be more involved in the Iran war. When we wanted them, we didn’t want them badly, but we did say, if you want to join us, and they all said no. But when they could have, they weren’t there for us, and we’ve been there for them. At last year’s summit, the alliance agreed to invest 5% of their gross domestic product on defense. NATO Secretary General demanded members need to showcase this year *** clear concrete plan to reach the organization’s military spending target. New figures. Released by NATO Tuesday show multiple countries including Slovenia, Belgium, and Spain could be in hot water with the Trump administration after they struggle to meet NATO’s old target of investing 2% of their economic output on defense at the White House. I’m Rachel Hirsheimer.
‘I’m not happy with NATO’: Trump expresses frustration with alliance on day 2 of summit
NATO leaders convened in Turkey to address military spending and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with President Donald Trump set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Updated: 6:14 AM MDT Jul 8, 2026
NATO leaders are meeting in Turkey to discuss pressing issues, including increased military spending and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. A major focus of the summit is the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday. Zelenskyy is expected to draw attention to Ukraine’s need for more U.S.-made missiles following a wave of deadly Russian attacks on Monday. These attacks highlight Kyiv’s ongoing struggle and the potential threat to NATO countries in Europe if the Kremlin’s attacks go beyond Ukraine.Ahead of the main meeting of NATO leaders, President Trump voiced frustrations about NATO contributions, renewing long-held complaints that the U.S. is not receiving enough in return and that NATO should have been more involved in the Iran War. “I’m not happy with NATO because of the fact that they didn’t want to help us with the number one state sponsor of terror. That’s Iran. They were unwilling to help us,” Trump said. “When we wanted them, we didn’t want them badly, but we did say, ‘If you want to join us,’ and they all said ‘no.'”Rutte pushed back on Trump’s claims, calling them “isolated cases,” highlighting that 5,000 planes took off from European airports in support of the war.”It was Europe as one, big platform of power projection for the United States helping with Epic Fury,” Rutte said.At last year’s summit, NATO members agreed to invest 5% of their gross domestic product on defense by 2035. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called for members to present a clear and concrete plan this year to meet the alliance’s military spending targets. New figures released by NATO on Tuesday show that several countries, including Slovenia, Belgium, and Spain, have struggled to meet the previous target of investing 2% of their economic output on defense, which could lead to further tensions with the Trump administration.The United States spends about 3.3% of its GDP on the military. Several NATO members exceed that level. The U.S. has said it does not intend to meet the 5% spending level. However, the U.S. has a larger economy and therefore a higher dollar amount.Last year the U.S. spent about $1 trillion on defense. The Trump administration is calling for $1.5 trillion in FY 2027, bringing its percentage of GDP spending on the military to 3.8%.In addition to these complaints, the president also renewed calls at this conference for the U.S. to own Greenland for security reasons. Denmark, the NATO ally that owns Greenland, continues to refuse entertaining the proposal. Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau:
WASHINGTON —
NATO leaders are meeting in Turkey to discuss pressing issues, including increased military spending and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
A major focus of the summit is the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday.
Zelenskyy is expected to draw attention to Ukraine’s need for more U.S.-made missiles following a wave of deadly Russian attacks on Monday. These attacks highlight Kyiv’s ongoing struggle and the potential threat to NATO countries in Europe if the Kremlin’s attacks go beyond Ukraine.
Ahead of the main meeting of NATO leaders, President Trump voiced frustrations about NATO contributions, renewing long-held complaints that the U.S. is not receiving enough in return and that NATO should have been more involved in the Iran War.
“I’m not happy with NATO because of the fact that they didn’t want to help us with the number one state sponsor of terror. That’s Iran. They were unwilling to help us,” Trump said. “When we wanted them, we didn’t want them badly, but we did say, ‘If you want to join us,’ and they all said ‘no.'”
Rutte pushed back on Trump’s claims, calling them “isolated cases,” highlighting that 5,000 planes took off from European airports in support of the war.
“It was Europe as one, big platform of power projection for the United States helping with Epic Fury,” Rutte said.
At last year’s summit, NATO members agreed to invest 5% of their gross domestic product on defense by 2035. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called for members to present a clear and concrete plan this year to meet the alliance’s military spending targets.
New figures released by NATO on Tuesday show that several countries, including Slovenia, Belgium, and Spain, have struggled to meet the previous target of investing 2% of their economic output on defense, which could lead to further tensions with the Trump administration.
The United States spends about 3.3% of its GDP on the military. Several NATO members exceed that level. The U.S. has said it does not intend to meet the 5% spending level. However, the U.S. has a larger economy and therefore a higher dollar amount.
Last year the U.S. spent about $1 trillion on defense. The Trump administration is calling for $1.5 trillion in FY 2027, bringing its percentage of GDP spending on the military to 3.8%.
In addition to these complaints, the president also renewed calls at this conference for the U.S. to own Greenland for security reasons. Denmark, the NATO ally that owns Greenland, continues to refuse entertaining the proposal.
Keep watching for the latest from the Washington News Bureau: