Leaders of NATO’s 32 member states will meet in Ankara on Tuesday and Wednesday for one of the alliance’s most consequential summits in recent years, as Europe faces mounting pressure from United States President Donald Trump to assume greater responsibility for its own defence.
The gathering comes amid continued uncertainty over Washington’s long term military commitment to Europe, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, tensions in the Middle East following the Iran conflict, and broader efforts by NATO to strengthen its military capabilities.
The summit is expected to focus on defence spending, support for Ukraine, expanding defence production, and the future balance of responsibilities between the United States and its European allies.
Defence Spending Takes Centre Stage
A key priority will be demonstrating progress toward the pledge made at last year’s summit in The Hague, where NATO members agreed to work towards spending 5 percent of gross domestic product on defence and defence related investments by 2035.
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European governments are expected to present evidence of increased military investment and argue that they are taking greater responsibility for collective security.
According to a draft summit declaration seen by Reuters, European allies and Canada increased defence investment by more than 139 billion dollars in 2025.
The summit is also expected to reaffirm NATO’s commitment to modernising its military capabilities and strengthening Europe’s role within the alliance.
Support for Ukraine Remains a Priority
NATO leaders are expected to reaffirm long term military support for Ukraine despite uncertainty surrounding future United States funding.
The alliance is expected to announce a pledge of 70 billion euros in military equipment, training and assistance for Ukraine in 2026, while encouraging members to maintain similar levels of support in 2027.
Most of the funding will come through existing bilateral commitments and European Union financing rather than new United States contributions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to participate in summit events alongside NATO leaders.
Expanding Defence Production
Beyond defence spending, NATO wants to accelerate weapons production and improve defence industrial cooperation across member states.
A defence industry forum scheduled alongside the summit is expected to produce agreements worth tens of billions of dollars covering weapons manufacturing, technology development and military innovation.
The initiative reflects growing concern that NATO countries need to replenish stockpiles while preparing for future security challenges.
Iran and Middle East Security
The recent Iran conflict is expected to feature prominently in leaders’ discussions.
European governments remain concerned that disagreements with Washington over the conflict could affect alliance unity.
The summit declaration is expected to reaffirm that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon while calling for freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.
Turkey Seeks Strategic Gains
As summit host, Turkey will use the meeting to showcase its expanding defence industry and promote greater military cooperation within NATO.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to seek progress on defence procurement projects, including the SAMP/T missile defence system, while urging allies to remove restrictions on defence trade.
During bilateral talks with President Trump, Erdogan is also expected to press for the removal of United States sanctions and Turkey’s return to the F 35 fighter jet programme.
Leaders Expected to Attend
The summit will bring together leaders from all 32 NATO member states, including President Donald Trump.
Also expected to attend various summit events are:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung
- European Council President Antonio Costa
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
Foreign ministers from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will also participate in separate discussions, alongside ministers from Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
The Ankara summit comes during a period of significant change for NATO.
Since returning to office, President Trump has repeatedly urged European allies to spend more on defence while signalling that the United States expects Europe to shoulder a greater share of responsibility for regional security.
The alliance also continues to adapt to the prolonged war in Ukraine, rising global geopolitical tensions and increased competition in defence technology and industrial production.
Why It Matters
The Ankara summit could shape the future direction of NATO by defining how defence responsibilities are shared between the United States and Europe.
Its decisions will influence military spending, support for Ukraine, defence industrial capacity and alliance cohesion at a time when NATO faces simultaneous challenges from Russia, instability in the Middle East and broader geopolitical competition.
Stakeholders
NATO Members: Seeking to strengthen collective defence while maintaining alliance unity.
United States: Pressing allies to increase defence spending and assume greater responsibility for European security.
European Allies: Demonstrating increased military investment while preserving United States security commitments.
Ukraine: Looking for continued military assistance and political backing.
Turkey: Using the summit to advance defence cooperation and strengthen ties with key allies.
Defence Industry: Expected to benefit from new procurement agreements and increased military investment.
What Happens Next
Following the summit, NATO members are expected to begin implementing new defence investment plans and industrial agreements announced in Ankara.
Attention will also focus on how quickly European countries increase military spending, whether promised support for Ukraine is delivered, and whether discussions between Trump and European leaders ease concerns over the future of United States engagement in NATO.
Analysis: A Defining Test for NATO’s Future
The Ankara summit represents more than a routine annual gathering. It is emerging as a test of whether NATO can successfully adapt to a changing security environment in which Europe is expected to play a much larger military role.
President Trump’s insistence on burden sharing has accelerated a shift that many European governments had already begun after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Rather than debating whether Europe should spend more on defence, the discussion has increasingly shifted toward how quickly it can build the military capabilities needed to reduce reliance on the United States.
For Europe, this transition presents both opportunities and challenges. Greater defence spending could strengthen the continent’s industrial base, improve military readiness and create a more balanced alliance. However, financing higher defence budgets while managing economic pressures and competing domestic priorities will remain politically difficult for many governments.
Support for Ukraine also reflects a changing dynamic. With Washington expected to contribute less financially, European countries will increasingly bear the burden of sustaining Kyiv’s military capabilities. Whether they can maintain this level of support over several years will become a key measure of NATO’s long term credibility.
Turkey is another major beneficiary of hosting the summit. Ankara has positioned itself as both a critical NATO member and an emerging defence manufacturing power. If it secures progress on defence cooperation and renewed engagement with the United States, Turkey could strengthen its strategic influence within the alliance.
Overall, the Ankara summit is likely to reinforce NATO’s unity publicly, but it also highlights the alliance’s ongoing transformation. The coming years will determine whether Europe can translate higher spending commitments into real military capability while preserving the transatlantic partnership that has underpinned NATO’s security for more than seven decades.
With information from Reuters.
