NATO Leaders Gather in Ankara as Alliance Pushes Record Arms Deals and Higher Defence Spending
Rutte Calls Ukraine’s Security ‘Linked to Our Own’ While Allies Face Pressure to Boost Military Budgets Ahead of Trump Talks
NATO leaders have assembled in Ankara for the alliance’s annual summit amid one of the most challenging security environments in decades. The meeting brings together heads of state from all 32 member nations as Russia’s war in Ukraine, rising tensions in the Middle East, and questions over long-term transatlantic security dominate the agenda. The summit is also expected to feature U.S. President Donald Trump alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Ahead of the formal summit, NATO is hosting a major defence industry forum where member states are expected to announce arms contracts worth tens of billions of dollars. The agreements are designed to accelerate weapons production, strengthen European defence industries, and demonstrate that allies are increasing military investment in response to growing security threats. Among the expected announcements are multinational procurement projects and plans to replace NATO’s ageing airborne surveillance aircraft with Sweden’s Saab GlobalEye system.
Secretary General Mark Rutte used the opening of the summit to stress that “Ukraine’s security is linked to our own,” arguing that continued military support for Kyiv remains essential for the alliance’s collective defence. He urged member states to present “clear, concrete and credible” national plans to achieve NATO’s new long-term defence spending target of 5% of GDP, including 3.5% for core military expenditure and 1.5% for defence-related infrastructure and resilience.
The renewed spending drive follows months of sustained pressure from President Trump, who has repeatedly argued that European allies must shoulder a greater share of NATO’s defence burden. NATO officials say European members and Canada have already increased defence spending significantly, but the alliance now wants binding national roadmaps showing how governments will meet the new targets over the coming decade.
Ukraine remains at the centre of summit discussions following Russia’s latest large-scale missile attacks on Kyiv. NATO leaders are expected to reaffirm long-term military assistance while addressing growing concerns over shortages of air-defence interceptor missiles and the need to expand European weapons production. Recent Russian strikes have intensified calls for faster delivery of advanced air-defence systems and ammunition to Ukrainian forces.
Despite broad agreement on strengthening NATO’s military capabilities, differences remain over defence spending timelines, future U.S. military commitments in Europe, and burden-sharing among allies. Several governments continue to face domestic political and economic challenges in meeting the ambitious new targets, while uncertainty surrounding Washington’s future strategic priorities has encouraged European nations to accelerate efforts toward greater defence self-reliance.
The Ankara summit is therefore expected to shape NATO’s strategic direction for years to come. Alongside new arms deals and defence investment commitments, leaders will seek to present a united front against Russian aggression while reinforcing the alliance’s collective security commitments. Whether those objectives translate into lasting policy changes may depend on the willingness of member states to match political declarations with sustained military investment and industrial expansion.
