Declarations are not deterrence, and commitments are not capabilities. The NATO Allies made a historic pledge at The Hague last year to dedicate five percent of GDP annually to core defense and security-related capabilities.
This pledge was a testament to the historic leadership of President Trump, whose unwavering determination has secured a surge in Allied defense investment not seen since the founding of NATO. The Alliance now faces its defining test: turning promises into realities on the ground.
The Burden-Sharing Reckoning is underway. Since 2017, European Allies and Canada have increased defense investment by more than $1.2 trillion. This reflects a real shift in political will, and nearly $139 billion has been committed since the Hague Summit alone.
Some Allies are shouldering more of the burden than others, and the United States will continue to press every member of this Alliance to honor its commitments. In an era of complex new threats, a weak link anywhere degrades collective security everywhere.
The goal is not simply to spend more, but to shift the conventional defense of Europe to Europeans, with the United States providing critical but more focused support. This means an Alliance that is stronger, more lethal, and less dependent on the United States.
The Defense Industrial Imperative is underway. We must build more military equipment, build it faster, and out-innovate our adversaries. This requires expanded industrial capacity on both sides of the Atlantic, including more partnerships between American defense companies and European industry.
It requires more flexible contracting and new pathways for our most innovative small businesses to bring best-in-class technology to the Alliance. Allied demand drives American production, American production drives Allied capability, Allied capability drives deterrence, and deterrence keeps the peace.
The NATO Summit in Ankara must be a summit of action. The Hague gave us the mandate, and Ankara must give us the momentum – concrete milestones, measurable capability targets, and mechanisms that ensure Allies deliver.
A stronger Europe, armed with real capabilities, is the prerequisite for an Alliance that can defend every inch of NATO territory – as equal Allies, not dependents. Our adversaries must look at our capabilities and conclude that the cost of aggression is too high.
The direction is clear, the commitment is real, and now is the time to act. The goal is to build a NATO that is stronger, more lethal, and better equipped to address the complex threats of the modern world.
The United States has been the backbone of NATO, and we will remain a proud, stalwart Ally. But ultimately, a stronger Alliance requires a stronger Europe, and it is time for Europe to take on a more significant role in its own defense.
The Alliance is at a critical juncture, and the time for action is now. The world demands a strong America and strong Allies, and it is up to NATO to deliver.
A weak link anywhere degrades collective security everywhere, and it is time for the Alliance to come together and demonstrate its commitment to collective defense.
The future of NATO and the security of the West depend on the success of this Summit. It is time for action, not words, and the United States will continue to lead the way.
