NATO 36

World leaders landed in Ankara, Turkey, yesterday for the 36th annual NATO summit.

President Trump has been critical of the 32-member alliance, accusing member nations of freeloading off American security guarantees and not aiding the U.S. in its conflict with Iran. Last year, member states agreed to significantly increase their defense spending (from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035), and Trump has threatened to reduce support for allies who fail to hit their target.

Yesterday, NATO showcased billions in new military projects, including new surveillance drones for the alliance.

Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy is also in Turkey, pressing allies for more military aid following recent Russian strikes and re-re-re-reiterating his case for letting Ukraine join NATO. Today, he’ll meet with President Trump, who says he thinks the Russia-Ukraine war could be settled “hopefully soon.”

ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Christians should be committed to praying for world leaders to be wise and to work towards peaceful resolutions, while simultaneously placing our hope in God, not government.

“Do not trust in nobles, in a son of man, who cannot save. When his breath leaves him, he returns to the ground; on that day his plans die. Happy is the one whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He remains faithful forever, executing justice for the exploited and giving food to the hungry.”
Psalm 146:3-7 (CSB) (read full passage)