US President Donald Trump will join fellow NATO leaders for a summit in Ankara next week after lashing out over their response to his war with Iran.
Allies hope to avoid a blow-up in Turkey by showcasing new spending and deals, and lavishing on hospitality.
Here’s how NATO will try to keep the mercurial US leader happy:
Show him the money
A year after Trump pressured them into agreeing to ramp up defence-related spending to five percent of GDP, NATO allies will look to convince him they’re making progress.
Although they’ve got until 2035 to hit the target, the US president will want proof Europe is addressing his long-standing grievance.
“It’s meant to be a demonstration to Trump of what a success he has had, and where everyone thanks him for pushing them,” a NATO diplomat said on condition of anonymity.
NATO chief Mark Rutte — one of the few European leaders still in Trump’s good books — previewed the pitch at the White House last week.
Holding up a chart emblazoned with “THE TRUMP TRILLION” in gold lettering, he laid out additional European spending since Trump first took office in 2017.
“This is your evidence,” Rutte said.
But while budgets overall are up there are weak spots that could annoy Trump: three countries, including the Czech Republic and Slovenia, are expected to slip under the two-percent benchmark this year.
Help out on Iran?
While Trump has secured a preliminary deal with Iran, the situation remains volatile and any flare-ups could still overshadow the summit.
