NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is preparing to manage tensions within the alliance as leaders from NATO's 32 member countries gather in Ankara on July 7, 2026. The summit occurs amid heightened uncertainty due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Russia's war in Ukraine.

In late June, Rutte visited Washington, where he sought to highlight the achievements under former US President Donald Trump, notably pointing to an additional $1.2 trillion (€1 trillion) in defense spending by European allies and Canada since 2017. This effort, dubbed "The Trump Trillion," was part of Rutte's strategy to keep Trump engaged and supportive of NATO.

However, unpredictability remains a concern. At a NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels on June 18, Trump's defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, announced a review of American troop deployments and military posture in Europe, signaling potential shifts in US commitments.

European officials have warned that if the US reduces its role in Europe, European countries must quickly increase their defense efforts given the threats from Russia and geopolitical fragility in the region. According to AFP, NATO's European members and Canada plan to pledge 70 billion euros ($80 billion) in military aid to Ukraine over the next two years at the Ankara summit.

Concerns persist that political divisions, especially if the US president openly criticizes allies over defense spending or involvement in the Iran war, could weaken NATO's political cohesion and military deterrence. Rutte's public efforts to emphasize European contributions and defense contracts aim to please Trump and reinforce NATO's unity, though it remains uncertain whether this approach will succeed.

Rutte acknowledged the challenge, noting Trump's potential to be disruptive and the difficulty in predicting his actions.

Sources