NATO Summit in Ankara Focuses on US Pressure, Ukraine Aid, and Turkey Relations

Leaders of 32 NATO member countries convened in Ankara for a two-day summit marked by increasing pressure from US President Donald Trump. Trump has demanded that NATO allies significantly raise their defense spending, highlighting the disparity between the US budget of $999 billion and those of European countries. Ahead of the summit, Trump posted a comparison chart on Truth Social criticizing the one-sided nature of US contributions and threatening to reduce American commitments to the alliance.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has been actively working to demonstrate Europe's commitment, urging all members to present clear plans to increase defense budgets to 5% of GDP promptly. Stoltenberg emphasized that the goal is to deliver results rather than simply appease political demands.

A central topic at the summit is continued military aid to Ukraine, with NATO leaders expected to approve around 70 billion euros in assistance for 2025 and a similar amount for 2026. The alliance aims to formalize a multi-year framework for supporting Kyiv, recognizing Ukraine not only as a recipient but also as a security partner contributing through its defense industry and operational experience. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was invited to the leaders' dinner and is set to participate in policy discussions.

US-Turkey relations are also in focus, with Trump reportedly planning to announce the reinstatement of Turkey into the F-35 stealth fighter program, reversing his 2019 decision following Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile system. Trump hinted at giving Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a "gift that will make him very happy," though this move faces opposition in the US Congress.

Simultaneously, the US is reviewing its troop deployments in Europe amid potential conflict with Russia, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warning that countries investing less in defense may face the largest cuts. NATO's European commander, General Christopher G. Cavoli, noted that European nations have largely closed capability gaps but still cannot fully replace US long-range bomber capacities.

The summit includes a formal dinner at Erdogan's presidential palace with informal talks, followed by a working session of heads of state and government. The closing statement is expected to be brief, reaffirming NATO's core principles, especially the collective defense clause under Article 5.