Five Key Points from the NATO Summit in Ankara: Trump, Ukraine, and Defence Spending

The 32 member countries of NATO met in Ankara, Turkiye, this week to demonstrate unity despite deep-seated disagreements. Although US President Donald Trump had previously sharpened his criticism of European NATO members regarding their contributions to the Iran conflict and defence spending, the summit concluded on a positive note. Trump declared the meeting a ‘very successful’ NATO summit, noting a sense of warmth among the leaders. Here are five key takeaways from the two-day gathering. Fears that NATO might collapse after more than 75 years, fuelled by Trump’s threatening comments since his return to office, were dispelled. The message from Ankara was that the alliance remains solid. Members expressed their readiness to pour billions of dollars into strengthening collective defence, primarily to convince Russia that an attack on the alliance would be a bad idea. Relations between Washington and Kyiv, which had cooled, are now warming up again. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky received special attention through a bilateral meeting with Trump. Ukraine’s battlefield successes and its expertise in repelling drone attacks have earned respect and new contracts. The summit’s official declaration affirmed that NATO members stand united in their unwavering support for Ukraine. European nations and Canada are beginning to close the military spending gap with the United States. According to NATO data, European defence expenditure rose by nearly 20 percent last year compared to 2024. Tens of billions of dollars in new defence orders and deals were announced at the summit, serving as evidence that US allies are starting to take on greater responsibility. Despite increased budget commitments, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged that turning money into real military strength takes time. The production of aircraft, warships, and advanced electronic systems remains slow. It will take several years for production facilities to operate at full capacity to close the current capability gaps. The diplomatic strategy of European leaders, including Rutte, who frequently offered public praise to Trump, appears to have paid off. Trump felt appreciated by his fellow NATO leaders. ‘They like the job I’m doing,’ Trump said after the summit, claiming that other leaders expressed their full personal support for him.