NATO Allies Pledge Billions in Ankara Amid Trump Tensions

NATO leaders convened for the 36th summit in Ankara, Türkiye, from July 7 to 8, 2026, to implement a strategic shift termed "NATO 3.0." Under pressure from Donald Trump, who criticized allies for insufficient spending and a lack of support during U.S. operations in Iran, the alliance focused on industrial capacity and burden-sharing. Member states pledged to reach a defense spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035, with some nations, like Canada, already planning to reach 4% within two years.

The summit produced more than $50 billion in procurement deals. Key initiatives include the "Drone Edge" program for counter-drone capabilities, the acquisition of Saab GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, and the integration of Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton drones. To further reduce reliance on the U.S., Prime Minister Keir Starmer launched a $50 billion European partnership among 12 nations to develop long-range "Deep Precision Strike" missiles.

Support for Ukraine remained a central pillar, with allies pledging 70 billion euros in military aid. In a surprise move, Trump announced the U.S. would license Patriot interceptor technology, allowing Ukraine to manufacture the missiles domestically.

Diplomatic tensions persisted as Trump demanded U.S. control of Greenland and threatened trade sanctions against Spain. However, he praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, announcing plans to lift sanctions on Türkiye and consider its return to the F-35 program. Despite these frictions, the summit concluded with a reaffirmation of the Article 5 collective defense commitment, which leaders described as an "ironclad commitment."