NATO leaders met in Ankara, Türkiye, on 7–8 July 2026, a year after agreeing at The Hague that allies would raise defence and security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. Their declaration was six paragraphs long. It restated the Article 5 pledge that “an attack on one is an attack on all”, named Russia as a long-term threat, reported that European allies and Canada had raised core defence investment by more than $139 billion in 2025, and pledged €70 billion of military support to Ukraine for 2026.
The summit took place during tensions between the United States and some allies. News organisations reported that President Donald Trump criticised allies over the war with Iran and renewed his call for US control of Greenland, part of Denmark, before describing the meeting as a success with “a lot of unity”. NATO’s own figures showed that five allies were expected to meet the 3.5% core defence level in 2026.
The summit is evidence for debates about how far NATO addresses contemporary security issues. Allies restated the collective defence guarantee, named Russia as the main long-term threat and recorded large increases in European spending, but only five allies were expected to meet the new core level in 2026.
It also shows the changing balance of power inside the alliance. European allies and Canada now provide most military help to Ukraine and the declaration describes them as taking on greater responsibility for defence, while disputes with the United States over Greenland and Iran raise questions about whether the US commitment to its allies is as firm as before.
Critics point to President Trump’s reported attacks on allies, his renewed push for US control of Greenland, and talk among some allies of avoiding another divisive summit. On this view, an alliance whose leading member questions its partners is less dependable than its declaration suggests.
NATO’s own estimates showed only five of 32 allies at the 3.5% core level in 2026, and the combined figure for European allies and Canada was reported at about 2.5%. The 2035 deadline leaves time, but the gap is large and the trajectory is due to be reviewed in 2029.
Breaking Defense judged that a calm summit eased earlier worries about US engagement, and Trump himself called it a success. On this view, a short text focused on defence, industry and Ukraine kept all allies, including the United States, signed up to the same commitments.
Liberals would stress that the alliance works through shared institutions, joint procurement and long-term commitments to Ukraine, not just a balance of power, and that cooperation continued despite disputes between governments.
The facts and their significance still stand.
The most recent NATO summit, showing collective defence, burden-sharing and US–European tensions in one event.
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Origin: Human-written · Reviewer: Editor
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