Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged during the NATO summit in Turkey that U.S. President Donald Trump has successfully pressured alliance members to increase their defense contributions. Speaking to reporters on the final day of the gathering, Carney stated that countries are now taking greater responsibility for their military capabilities.
The Canadian leader revealed he recently spoke with Trump and conveyed that the American president’s longstanding criticism of NATO spending has gained significant traction. According to Carney, this push for increased military investment began under former President Barack Obama but has accelerated under Trump’s persistent demands for allies to shoulder more of the burden.
Despite the positive momentum on spending, tensions remain within the alliance. Trump expressed frustration with NATO members over Greenland-related issues and what he perceives as insufficient support against Iran. The president even threatened to halt trade with Spain and indicated he would raise the Greenland matter during official council meetings.
In a significant announcement ahead of the summit, Carney revealed that German company TKMS has been selected as the preferred bidder for Canada’s next submarine fleet. This massive defense contract is expected to substantially boost Canada’s military expenditure, helping Ottawa demonstrate its commitment to NATO obligations. The German-Norwegian proposal narrowly defeated a competing bid from South Korea’s Hanwha, though negotiations with TKMS must still be finalized.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte attempted to ease tensions by praising Trump for driving unprecedented increases in military budgets across member nations. Throughout the summit, allies collectively announced tens of billions of dollars in new defense investments, signaling a major shift in the alliance’s approach to shared security responsibilities.
