NATO summit in Ankara tests unity as Ukraine war and Trump tensions loom

As NATO leaders gather in Ankara tomorrow, Tuesday, the alliance faces a stark test of unity, burden-sharing and strategic clarity, with the war in Ukraine, transatlantic tensions and Middle East instability all pressing heavily on the agenda.

Issued on: 06/07/2026 - 18:32

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The Ankara meeting is overshadowed by renewed friction between Washington and its European allies.

US President Donald Trump has again questioned NATO’s value, calling the relationship “ridiculous” and “not reciprocal” in comments that revive longstanding disputes over defence spending and strategic priorities.

“Ridiculous for the USA to continue along this one sided path when the relationship is not reciprocal,” he wrote. “They were not there for us!!!"

But Secretary General Mark Rutte says that “NATO must remain strong, keep supporting Ukraine, and deepen partnerships with like-minded countries.”

According to him, the alliance "needs a powerful and active US role, while Europeans must do more on defence and burden-sharing.”

Meanwhile, European leaders seem likely to emphasise increased defence budgets and the scale of their Ukraine commitments in response.

Diplomats, quoted by France’s press agency AFP, say Nato’s European members and Canada were saying that their countries would pledge €70 billion in military aid to Ukraine over this year and next, a signal that support for Kyiv remains substantial despite mounting political strain.

The commitment, to be included in the final declaration, would comprise €30 billion annually from an EU-backed loan and previously earmarked national contributions.

As Europe pours money into defence, reliance on US remains a sticking point

According to AFP, the package is intended not only to sustain Ukraine’s war effort but also to reassure Kyiv that Western backing will endure into 2027.

But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to press allies to go even further, particularly on air defence.

Following deadly Russian strikes that killed 21 people in Kyiv this week, he has called for accelerated deliveries of air and missile defence systems, warning that civilian vulnerability remains acute.

“This must be one of the key outcomes,” he said ahead of the summit.

Notable shift

Ankara marks a notable shift from last year’s summit in The Hague. The 2025 meeting was characterised by relative cohesion, with allies focusing on long-term defence planning, industrial capacity and a carefully calibrated expansion of support to Ukraine.

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While tensions over burden-sharing existed, they were largely contained within a framework of consensus and forward planning.

By contrast, the Ankara summit is more reactive and politically charged. The security environment has deteriorated, with intensified Russian strikes on Ukraine and broader regional instability linked to Iran.

At the same time, internal divisions within NATO have become more visible, particularly regarding the balance of responsibilities between the United States and its allies. Where The Hague emphasised strategic continuity, Ankara is likely to expose strategic fault lines.

(With newswires)