The leaders of NATO member states convened in Ankara, Turkiye, on July 9, 2026, primarily to discuss increasing defense investment and long-term military support for Ukraine. However, the ongoing conflict involving Iran has overshadowed the summit.

A critical issue facing the alliance is the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that Iran effectively closed for several months. Since a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran on June 17, questions remain about the strait's security.

Prior to the NATO summit, the United States urged its European allies to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz. However, several European members declined, arguing that the conflict does not directly involve the bloc.

Experts participating in the discussion included David Des Roches, professor at the Thayer Marshall Institute and former NATO operations director; Alam Saleh, senior lecturer of Iranian studies at the Australian National University; and Patrick Bury, defense and security specialist at the University of Bath and former NATO analyst.

The summit highlighted the complex geopolitical challenges NATO faces in balancing its commitments to Ukraine and addressing security concerns in the Middle East.

Sources