The United States expressed optimism on Wednesday about the success of the NATO summit set to be held next week in Ankara.
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said at a virtual press conference with journalists: "We are poised to have a highly successful summit this year, because last year was unprecedented and was of great importance."
Whitaker said the meeting in Ankara would focus on assessing the implementation of the defence commitments agreed at last year's summit in The Hague.
He added that defence capabilities in particular must be subject to careful evaluation, stressing that the issue goes beyond simply increasing spending.
"Ultimately, it is about the capabilities being purchased with that spending, which must support the current burden shift that is taking place here in Europe," he said.
The US government has been pressing Europeans for some time to take on greater responsibility for their own defence capabilities.