NATO allies concluded their summit in Ankara by reaffirming an "ironclad commitment" to collective defense under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, despite repeated warnings from US President Donald Trump about not aiding Europe in an attack. The final declaration stressed that "An attack on one is an attack on all." European allies and Canada are taking on greater responsibility for the alliance's defense, making significant investments in their military capabilities and industrial base.
Allies pledged €70 billion (approximately $80 billion) in military equipment, assistance, and training for Ukraine in 2026, with a commitment to sustain at least equivalent levels in 2027. This aid comes as the declaration identifies Russia as a "long-term threat" to the alliance. European allies and Canada have increased their investments in core defense requirements by over $139 billion in 2025, and announced more than $50 billion in new procurements at the Ankara summit. They also committed to expanding collective manufacturing capacity and eliminating defense trade barriers.
Despite the unified stance on collective defense and aid to Ukraine, the summit was marked by President Trump's disruptive presence. He renewed threats to take over Greenland, criticized European countries for not participating in what he described as his "Iran campaign," and singled out Spain as a "terrible partner." He also pushed for a "Made in NATO" concept and hinted at a leaner "NATO 3.0" where Europe shoulders more responsibility for conventional defense while the US provides its nuclear umbrella. Trump also announced that the US would grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air defense systems.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte attempted to placate Trump by crediting him with recent increases in defense spending among allies. The stress of annual summits with the US President has led some allies to question the need for yearly leader gatherings, a practice that began after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The final statement did not commit to a date for the next meeting, simply stating, "We look forward to our next meeting."
