ANKARA — NATO leaders concluded their summit in Ankara with renewed commitments to long-term support for Ukraine while expanding discussions on security challenges in the Middle East, underscoring the alliance's effort to address multiple crises affecting Euro-Atlantic security.
The two-day meeting, hosted by Türkiye on July 7-8, reaffirmed allied backing for Ukraine as Russia's war continued and pledged €70 billion in military equipment, assistance and training for Kyiv in 2026, with allies committing to sustain at least an equivalent level of support in 2027, according to the Ankara Summit Declaration.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance remained focused on turning previous commitments into concrete action through increased defense investment, industrial production and continued military assistance for Ukraine. The summit also reviewed progress toward a target for allies to raise defense investment to 5% of gross domestic product by 2035 and announced new defense procurement initiatives intended to strengthen the alliance's industrial base.
Ukraine featured prominently in leaders' discussions as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought additional air defense support following renewed Russian attacks. NATO leaders reiterated that Ukraine's security contributes to broader transatlantic security and emphasized that allied assistance should remain predictable and sustainable over the long term.
The summit also addressed instability in the Middle East following recent regional tensions. In their final declaration, allied leaders reiterated that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon and called on Tehran to respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The alliance said it would continue adapting to strategic competition, hybrid threats and broader regional instability affecting allied security.
U.S. President Donald Trump attended the gathering amid continuing discussions with allies over defense spending and NATO's role in responding to emerging security challenges. Leaders also announced major defense industry agreements worth more than $50 billion, covering areas including missile defense, drones and advanced military technologies.
The summit declaration reaffirmed NATO's commitment to Article 5, the alliance's collective defense clause, describing unity and deterrence as the foundation of transatlantic security. Leaders said the alliance would continue strengthening military capabilities while coordinating responses to threats originating from both Russia's war against Ukraine and instability beyond NATO's borders.
