Forthcoming NATO summit in Ankara amid divergences over international issues

Leaders of NATO member states will meet next week in Ankara at a summit focused on boosting defense expenditure, supporting Ukraine, and the future of transatlantic security cooperation, amid continuing differences among allies over several international files.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the summit, scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, will reaffirm European countries’ commitment to increasing defense spending and strengthening the alliance’s military capabilities, noting that announcements of multi-billion-dollar arms deals are expected as part of efforts to enhance deterrence.

It is also expected that leaders will renew their military and financial support for Ukraine, including continued funding for arms supplies, amid the ongoing war with Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also expected to attend a dinner hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who will also hold a bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the summit.

European officials hope that the relationships linking Trump with both Erdogan and Rutte will help ensure the success of the summit, despite ongoing disagreements between the United States and some European allies on several issues, including the war in Iran, as well as Trump’s repeated criticism of European countries’ contributions to alliance funding.

Trump has reiterated his criticism of NATO members, arguing that the United States bears the largest share of collective defense burdens, while NATO officials emphasize that increased European defense spending is a response to these demands and also contributes to strengthening the alliance’s collective security.

Rutte noted that European countries and Canada increased their defense spending in 2025 by around $90 billion compared to the previous year, bringing total expenditure to more than $570 billion.

The NATO leaders had previously agreed at their last summit to raise core defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, in addition to allocating an extra 1.5% for security and defense-related investments, including cybersecurity and defense infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the allies are watching the summit amid concerns that developments in the Middle East, particularly any potential escalation between Iran and the United States, could affect its agenda, while NATO officials emphasize that most member states have fulfilled their commitments regarding logistical and military facilitation for the United States.

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ANHA