NATO chief may have to match his made-for-Trump sales pitch to keep summit on rails

Key Points:

• NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and his predecessor Mark Rutte have spent significant effort trying to keep the US committed to NATO amid President Trump's threats to abandon the alliance and reduce troop presence in Europe.
• Although NATO allies agreed last year to increase defense spending to match US levels relative to GDP, the current challenge is translating that spending into effective military capabilities, especially given concerns over Russian aggression.
• Trump remains dissatisfied with some NATO members' refusal to support US-led actions against Iran and has emphasized "loyalty" over financial contributions, casting doubt on his commitment to NATO's collective defense principles.
• The upcoming NATO summit in Turkey, hosted by President Erdogan, faces challenges maintaining unity as mixed signals from the US about troop deployments and defense commitments undermine alliance cohesion.
• Despite efforts to flatter and reassure Trump by highlighting European defense spending and contributions to US military jobs, NATO leaders struggle to address shifting US demands and the broader strategic implications of the alliance's future.