Foreign Ministers in NATO meet in Turkey on Thursday to prepare a pivotal summit of alliance leaders next month that will set the course for future European security as the U.S. focuses on challenges elsewhere.

NATO defense ministers are meeting in Turkey to discuss boosting military spending to 3.5%, while the EU is stepping up tariff negotiations.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NATO allies that much more defense spending is needed to reinforce the 32-nation security pact.

General Mark Rutte said Thursday that the organization’s procurement agency is cooperating with police investigating corruption and fraud allegations involving the purchase of military equipment. The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) helps the 32 members of the world’s biggest security alliance and their partners to buy defense equipment and other security systems and support.

The US approved the sale of $304 million-worth of missiles to Turkey as the NATO allies work to strengthen trade and defense ties.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated that the U.K. aims to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027.

At a gathering in Turkey, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said there's support to dramatically increase military spending across the alliance.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday he will discuss the U.S. decision to lift sanctions on Syria and the roadmap ahead in a meeting with his U.S. and Syrian counterparts later in the day.