STRENGTHENING THE U.S. DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE: At the NATO 2026 Ankara Summit, President Donald J. Trump announced a significant increase in defense investment from Allies, boosting market access for U.S. companies and supporting numerous high-paying manufacturing jobs in America.
- At the Summit, $3 billion in major deals and joint ventures were revealed, aimed at expanding the Arsenal of Freedom:
- Lockheed Martin plans to establish a Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Sustainment Facility in Europe.
- Northrup Grumman will sign Letters of Interest with ten nations for the purchase of MQ-4C Tritons, enhancing NATO’s Allied Ground Surveillance program in the maritime domain.
- Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall will collaborate on producing the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) in Europe.
- RTX and the Department of War will conduct a feasibility study on expanding the production of the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) in Europe.
- Germany and the Netherlands plan to purchase Raytheon’s Stinger missiles, with the condition of European production, aiming to double production volume by 2030.
- Boeing and Rheinmetall-Italy will explore a partnership to expand and sustain production of Boeing’s Small Diameter Bomb (SDB-I) for Europe.
- Anduril will provide Poland with Barracuda-500 missiles, establishing a new production line in the country.
- Procurement Coalitions will enable NATO Allies to join forces, creating a demand signal necessary to enhance procurement of key capabilities. This strategy aims to lower unit costs, increase production, and address capability gaps.
- The surge in NATO investment creates opportunities for small and medium-sized American businesses to market their products, innovate, and accelerate deliveries across the Alliance.
PRIORITIZING AMERICA FIRST FOREIGN POLICY: President Trump’s leadership has ushered in a generational shift in NATO, increasing allies’ involvement in industrial expansion and creating jobs for thousands of American workers.
- The NATO 3.0 initiative moves the Alliance towards more equitable burden-sharing and self-reliance.
- A more balanced Alliance allows American resources to be redirected towards homeland defense and secures vital national interests beyond Europe.
- In 2025, European defense spending supported nearly 200,000 American jobs, with 112,000 positions from U.S. defense contractor sales and 83,000 jobs from European defense firms operating in the U.S.
- President Trump’s America First Arms Transfer Strategy ensures that increased ally spending benefits the U.S. defense industry, revitalizing American manufacturing while providing partners with top-tier capabilities.
RESTORING BALANCE TO NATO: President Trump is transforming NATO from a dependency model into a true partnership, aligning with the founding principles of the Alliance.
- In June 2025, President Trump secured an unprecedented commitment from NATO allies to allocate 5 percent of their GDP annually to defense by 2035, marking the most ambitious pledge in the Alliance’s history.
- Last year, allied investment increased by over 20 percent, with allies spending $120 billion more than in 2025. This historic investment surge is restoring fairness to the Alliance and easing the burden on the United States.
- Since President Trump took office, NATO allies have invested an additional $1.21 trillion in defense, termed the “Trump Trillion.”
- European allies, prompted by President Trump, have shouldered the cost of defending Ukraine instead of American taxpayers. Over $5 billion has been spent through the President’s Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, allowing Allies to purchase U.S. equipment packages for Ukraine.
- In 2025, NATO allies purchased over $54 billion in defense equipment from the U.S., providing a boost to American manufacturers, workers, and communities.
- NATO allies have taken primary responsibility for conventional defense and have assumed more leadership roles.
- The Department of War has restored U.S. troop levels in Europe to pre-2022 numbers, empowering European partners to take on more responsibilities. Additionally, the Department of War is reviewing U.S. force posture and basing in Europe to ensure continued progress toward a European-led defense strategy.
