NATO allies gathered in Ankara, Türkiye, on July 7, 2026, to showcase a surge in defense spending through new arms contracts valued in the billions. The summit aimed to ease US President Donald Trump's dissatisfaction with Europe's response to the war involving Iran.
The two-day event at the presidential palace followed a pledge by NATO members a year prior to increase security-related spending to five percent of GDP, a target urged by Trump. NATO chief Mark Rutte emphasized that European countries are "delivering" by increasing military budgets and assuming greater responsibility for continental defense amid ongoing threats from Russia.
Ahead of the main summit, NATO launched a defense industry forum where "allies and industry from both sides of the Atlantic will reveal new major projects and sign contracts worth literally billions of dollars," Rutte said. Initial deals included contracts for drones, refueling, and surveillance aircraft to enhance Europe's self-protection capabilities.
Despite these efforts, Trump criticized allies for not acting swiftly enough, particularly after European nations limited US forces' access to bases for operations against Iran. European leaders sought to avoid a public dispute with the US president, mindful of the potential damage to NATO's credibility following Trump's previous doubts about Washington's commitment to its allies.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, attending the leaders' dinner, secured a commitment from European backers to maintain at least €70 billion (US$80 billion) in military aid to Kyiv annually for 2026 and 2027. Zelenskyy, preparing for talks with Trump at the summit, called on NATO to make "strong decisions" to bolster Ukraine's air defenses after a recent Russian bombardment that killed nearly 30 people.
This summit marks what has been described as "NATO 3.0," reflecting a stronger Europe within a stronger NATO alliance, with investments not only enhancing security but also boosting economies and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs.
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