LIVE BLOG: NATO SUMMIT IN ANKARA

A summit of leaders of NATO states, and partners, will take place in the Turkish Capital, Ankara on 7 and 8 July.

This is being described as the most important NATO summit this century.

 NATO Secretary General, Mark Rutte said:

"The task ahead is clear: to turn Allied commitments into concrete results. Increased investment, industrial production and continued support for Ukraine. All of this contributes to a stronger NATO and greater security for all of us."

The summit also highlights the importance of Turkiye, a regional strategic power in its own right, but also a key NATO country, who’s role in the alliance is increasingly recognised. With the second largest army in NATO, an expanding and successful military industry, and an ambitious foreign policy, the summit offers an opportunity for Turkiye to show leadership and foresight at a time when NATO is at an important crossroad.

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7 July

A key NATO summit will open in Ankra today, Tuesday, 7th July.

Leaders of the members of the alliance, including US president Donald Trump, are travelling to the Turkish capital for the summit.

On Monday (6 July) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met in Ankara with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

According to Turkish media, the parties discussed the agenda for the upcoming NATO summit, as well as current regional and global issues. Erdogan stated that Turkey had completed preparations for the leaders' meeting and expressed hope that the summit would be successful.

According to the Turkish president, the key topics of the summit will be collective defense and expanding allied cooperation in the defense industry. He also noted the importance of the Defense Industry Forum, which will be held on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

On Monday (6 July 2026), NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte previewed the Ankara Summit, explaining that it will focus on delivery. Allies are expected to demonstrate how they are transforming the commitments made at The Hague last year into stronger armed forces, increased defence production, and more capabilities needed to defend the Alliance.

The Secretary General highlighted the progress made by European Allies and Canada in investing 5% of GDP on defence by 2035.  “Here in Ankara, I expect nations to present clear, concrete and credible plans to reach that 5% goal. And the evidence we see so far is impressive,” said Mr Rutte, “Just one year into a 10-year project, we see that European Allies and Canada are already investing around 4% of their GDP in defence and security.”

The Secretary General set out how NATO Allies are turning the extra cash into capabilities. “We will announce tens of billions in new contracts that will provide the crucial kit we need to deter and defend”, said Mr Rutte in Ankara, “This will help grow our economies, spread innovation and support hundreds of thousands of jobs, on both sides of the Atlantic.”

Support for Ukraine will also be an important focus of the Summit of Allied Heads of State and Government. “Allies and NATO partners must continue to ensure Ukraine gets what it needs,” said the Secretary General, “And let me be clear, all Allies need to pull their weight, so that our support to Ukraine continues to flow. Because Ukraine’s security is so closely linked with our own.”

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6 July

Can NATO Pull Off a Dull Summit?

European countries are hoping that Erdogan can keep Trump from causing chaos.

Dr Dimitar Bechev, the director of the Dahrendorf Programme at St. Antony’s College’s Oxford, European Centre. writes on the US journal Foreign Policy

Billboards with the slogans “Key to Peace,” “Key to Security,” and “Shared Future in Peace”, displayed along the boulevard on the protocol route ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, on 26 June.Billboards along the protocol route ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on June 26. Dem Altan/AFP via Getty Images

U.S. President Donald Trump revels in his reputation as a disruptor. Europe has typically been on the receiving end. Cozying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling for the seizure of Greenland, slapping arbitrary tariffs on the European Union, forging alliances with insurgent parties and politicians on the far right, threatening to punish NATO allies for not backing the United States against Iran—there has been no shortage of drama in trans-Atlantic relations since he took office last January

But as NATO’s annual summit inAnkara, Turkey, on July 7-8 draws near, it’s becoming increasingly obvious that an equilibrium has emerged. European leaders have learned how to handle Trump. Trump’s haphazard efforts to reshape continental order have yielded only partial results. As a result, the trans-Atlantic alliance has degenerated into a partnership of convenience, but it is a partnership all the same..

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6 July

Turkish First Lady will host spouses during summit

Türkiye's first lady will host the spouses of heads of state and government attending the NATO Summit in Ankara on Tuesday, with discussions centered on children's safety in the digital age.

Emine Erdogan will welcome more than 20 spouses of NATO leaders at the Cankaya Presidential Mansion before hosting a roundtable on Children, Technology and Security: Protecting the Next Generation.

The meeting aims to raise awareness of the risks children face in digital environments, strengthen cooperation among stakeholders and encourage the sharing of best practices among allied countries.

Topics on the agenda include digital security and emerging risks, protective approaches for children, multistakeholder cooperation, digital literacy, ethical approaches and the exchange of best practices.

Following the roundtable, Erdogan will host a luncheon featuring traditional Turkish cuisine.

The spouses will dine in a hall showcasing Iznik tiles and tables decorated with traditional Turkish embroidered linens, highlighting Türkiye's cultural heritage and hospitality.

After the luncheon, the participants will pose for a family photograph before touring a collection of traditional Turkish textiles, embroidery and handicrafts reflecting the cultural heritage of Anatolia, Mesopotamia, the Ottoman Empire and earlier Turkish states.

source: commonspace.eu with Anadolou Agency (Ankara)

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6 JULY

Side events add  substantial content to Summit discussions

The Munich Security Conference, and the Turkish organisation SETA, have teamed up to organise a number of side events that add to the substance and content of the discussions at the NATO Summit. Together, they are called 'ALLIES IN ANKARA', and they will be held on 8 July. Here is a listing of the events:

“Allies in Ankara”

List of events:

Flanking the Future: UK–Türkiye Cooperation in NATO’s Next Chapter

Host Organization: Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) 

The event is kindly supported by RUSI’s strategic partner AYDA, a member of YDA Group.

The panel will examine how the United Kingdom and Türkiye, as NATO’s two most consequential non-EU security actors, can help shape the Alliance’s next strategic compact across the Black Sea, the southern flank, Ukraine and the wider Euro-Atlantic security architecture. The discussion will consider how NATO can better integrate the perspectives and capabilities of non-EU allies into deterrence and defence planning; where UK–Türkiye cooperation can strengthen the Alliance’s southern flank, Black Sea posture and Middle East crisis awareness; and what lessons Türkiye’s defence-industrial base, regional military experience and support to Ukraine may offer for NATO’s future adaptation.

Fighting as One: Interoperability, Trust, and Adaptation Across the Alliance

Host Organizations: Foreign Policy and Amazon Web Services

Modern conflict is increasingly defined by the ability to adapt faster than emerging threats. As adversaries compress decision cycles, accelerate innovation, and leverage autonomous and AI-enabled capabilities, NATO’s advantage depends on operational readiness, coalition interoperability, and the ability to translate information into action at speed. The challenge is no longer access to technology, but the Alliance’s ability to rapidly integrate innovation into operational capability while maintaining trust, resilience, and security across allied nations. 

Lessons from Ukraine and NATO’s Eastern Flank have reinforced the importance of resilient command-and-control, secure communications, rapid innovation adoption, and interoperable coalition operations. As the pace of technological change accelerates, allies face growing pressure to shorten the path from information to decision to action while ensuring forces can operate effectively across domains and national boundaries. This event will examine how NATO can accelerate alliance decision tempo, strengthen interoperability, enhance agility and security.

Connecting Europe’s Flanks: NATO, Germany, Türkiye, Italy, and the Mediterranean

Host Organization: IstanPol Institute and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Türkiye Office

How can NATO connect its eastern and southern priorities after Ankara? This side event examines the Mediterranean as a central arena for NATO and European security, where regional instability, maritime security, energy and infrastructure resilience, migration, and defense cooperation increasingly intersect. 

Focusing on Germany, Türkiye, and Italy, the discussion will explore how Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean allies can contribute to a more coherent NATO southern agenda. Türkiye and Italy bring frontline perspectives from the Central and Eastern Mediterranean, while Germany adds political, industrial, and strategic weight to Europe’s role within the Alliance. The event will ask how tangible cooperation among these three actors can strengthen EU–NATO coordination, connect fragmented policy agendas, and address challenges linked to North Africa, the Middle East, and wider geopolitical competition. The intended outcome is to identify practical ways for a “coalition of the willing and able” to advance a more comprehensive Mediterranean security agenda after the Ankara Summit.

The European Moment: NATO’s Eastern Flank at the Frontlines

Host Organizations: GLOBSEC

As European Allies take on a more assertive role within NATO, CEE is increasingly shaping the Alliance’s strategic direction. For CEE countries, shaped by the war in Ukraine and proximity to the eastern flank, deterrence, readiness, and defense industrial capacity are immediate operational priorities rather than abstract policy debates. 

While political commitments to European rearmament are accelerating, major structural gaps remain in defense industrial output, fragmented procurement, and interoperability. These challenges are most visible from the perspective of frontline states, where the demand for rapid capability delivery and credible deterrence is highest. At the same time, the NATO–EU relationship has become a practical governance issue across European capitals, requiring clearer alignment between political ambition and operational delivery within overlapping memberships. The Discussion will explore how CEE is shaping the Europeanisation of NATO, whether Europe can translate political ambition into real military capability, and what credible leadership in defense means beyond burden-sharing rhetoric. 

Inside the Architecture: Türkiye’s Defense Industry as a Structural Asset for NATO

Host Organizations: SETA Foundation, ROKETSAN, and ASELSAN

As NATO members race to close critical capability gaps, Türkiye’s defense industry has emerged as an indispensable component of the Alliance’s broader industrial ecosystem. No longer a peripheral supplier, Türkiye now occupies a structural position within allied defense production networks, from unmanned systems and air defense to armoured platforms and ammunition, with bilateral partnerships spanning more than a dozen European allies. This session examines how Turkish defense platforms and production networks are reshaping allied deterrence and collective capability, and interrogates a core tension: as European defense spending accelerates and new procurement architectures take shape, institutional frameworks have yet to catch up with operational realities.

NATO Youth Dialogue at the Ankara Summit: Recommendations to NATO on Ukraine, the Baltics, the Southern Neighborhood & the Balkans

Host Organization: Johns Hopkins SAIS, Western Balkans Youth Leaders, and YATA

Launched in 2024 under a US Mission to NATO grant, the ‘Seeing is Believing’ project brings security-focused Youth Leaders from the Western Balkans together with SAIS students. Rather than a typical gathering of youth leaders, our emerging experts present their recommendations tackle an array of threats to Alliance interests. These imaginative and practical suggestions are the basis for a meaningful exchange with NATO and member state officials along with experts and commentators—and all those interested in hearing how the next generation perceives evolving, essential roles and policies for the Alliance.

Civilian Protection, Missile Fire, and Drone War: Ukraine’s Lessons for Protecting the Gulf

Host Organization: Center for Civilians in Conflict 

How does Ukraine’s experience of protecting civilians under sustained missile, drone, artillery, and infrastructure attacks inform civilian protection responses to the US/Israel war in Iran and its spillover across the Gulf. Drawing on CIVIC’s work with Ukrainian authorities, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, CIMIC officers, and affected communities, the session would focus on operational choices that save lives: civilian casualty tracking, warning systems, evacuation under fire, military-community communication, protection of hospitals, schools, water and energy systems, and post-harm assistance. 

The discussion would compare Ukraine’s increasingly institutionalized protection architecture with the Gulf’s fast-moving regional crisis, where civilians in Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and Gulf states face drone and missile threats, infrastructure disruption, and maritime insecurity. The aim of the session would be to produce practical lessons for integrating protection of civilians into high-intensity defense planning (since most of the efforts in the Gulf, like in Ukraine, are defensive in nature.

(Don’t) Forget About the Price Tag: How to Fund NATO’s Defense Industrial Revolution?

Host Organization: NATO Parliamentary Assembly 

At the 2026 Ankara Summit, NATO Allies will demonstrate progress on implementing the historical commitments made at The Hague Summit in 2025. As Allies move toward the 5% defense spending benchmark, parliamentary leadership will be decisive in ensuring political legitimacy, fiscal sustainability and public transparency to enable the defense industrial revolution needed for the Alliance. This event, led by parliamentary voices, will help participants walk away with a set of recommendations on the critical role legislators play in enabling the industrial transformation needed to reach the 5% defense spending threshold.

The event will focus on how legislators can, through targeted legislation, improve access to finance for defense and dual-use technologies, incentivize public–private partnerships, and reduce entry costs and cooperation barriers for new players, including SMEs and start-ups; and adopt legal and regulatory frameworks to accelerate procurement, reduce fragmentation, and facilitate multinational cooperation to create momentum for NATO’s defense industrial revolution. 

Allies, Partners, or Hedgers? NATO and the Gulf After the Iran War

Host Organization: Middle East Council on Global Affairs 

The last NATO Summit hosted by Türkiye in 2004 produced the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), NATO’s principal framework for engagement with Gulf partners. Two decades later, and in the aftermath of the 2026 Iran war, the Summit’s return to Türkiye offers a timely opportunity to rethink NATO–Gulf cooperation. The war underscored that Gulf security is now directly tied to Euro-Atlantic security. Air and missile defense, maritime security, energy infrastructure protection, drone threats, and crisis coordination in the Gulf increasingly affect Alliance resilience and global energy stability. 

This side event examines how NATO–Gulf relations should evolve at a moment of major change for both sides. Discussions will focus on practical areas of cooperation, including counter-UAS, maritime awareness, cybersecurity, interoperability, training, and critical infrastructure protection. The panel will also address the Gulf’s internal diversity and explore more flexible, differentiated forms of regional and international security cooperation. 

Routes to Resilience: Mapping the Middle Corridor, the Development Road, and the New Connectivity Agenda

Host Organizations: Turkish Atlantic Council (ATA Türkiye) and Eastern Circles 

Eurasia’s trade geography has been redrawn. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine severed the Northern Corridor, forcing a rapid search for alternative routes. The Middle Corridor, running through Central Asia, the Caspian, and Türkiye, and Iraq’s Development Road, linking the Arabian Gulf to European markets via a new rail and highway network, have emerged as the most consequential alternatives. 

These are not simply infrastructure projects. They are a contest over who shapes Eurasian connectivity for the coming decades, and China’s Belt and Road Initiative is already competing for influence along the same routes. This panel examines how NATO and its allies can engage strategically with both corridors, addressing governance, financing, security, and political dimensions. It will explore what coordinated Euro-Atlantic investment looks like in practice, where existing initiatives fall short, and what concrete steps allied governments can take to ensure these routes serve resilience rather than dependency.

From the Arctic to the Black Sea: Critical Infrastructure in the Era of Defense Tech

Host Organizations: New Strategy Center and Centre for European Policy Analysis (CEPA)

The Black Sea has become a focal point as Ukraine defends against Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukraine’s use of uncrewed sea vessels (USVs) has resulted in multiple sunk ships and forced Russia’s Black Sea Fleet further way from Ukrainian coasts and into deeper ports. Ukraine demonstrates that uncrewed systems are fundamentally transforming modern warfare, and other emerging technologies like artificial intelligence will play a very important role in future conflicts. 

The Black Sea could be transformed into a NATO hub for unmanned systems, from which the lessons learned in Ukraine could be used by all the countries in the Alliance. Romania’s proposal to host the EU Maritime Security Hub in Constanța, in partnership with Bulgaria, could also provide a framework for integrating non-EU partners such as Türkiye and Ukraine into regional maritime monitoring and critical infrastructure protection, while incorporating Ukrainian expertise in uncrewed and counter-UAS systems and strengthening cooperation across the Arctic, Baltic, and Black Sea regions.

The Next Food Security Crisis is Now: Mapping a Response Agenda

Host Organization: CIMMYT 

A global food security crisis is unfolding in real time. War-related disruptions in Russia and Ukraine, renewed instability around the Strait of Hormuz, and a potentially severe El Niño are disrupting energy, fertilizer, and agricultural supply chains. Farmers are already confronting higher input costs, consumers are paying higher food prices, and governments are facing growing pressure on food security and stability. Food systems are strategic infrastructure. 

This session will examine where risks are emerging, how food system disruptions could fuel wider security challenges, including within NATO nations. and what governments, international organizations, and the private sector can still do to pre-position assistance, protect agricultural production, strengthen resilience, and reduce the humanitarian and geopolitical consequences.

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6 July

The NATO summit in Ankara is expected to focus on three main issues:

Defence investment

Following their commitment last year to invest 5% of GDP in defence, NATO Allies are stepping up. In 2025, European Allies and Canada increased their core defence investment by USD 139 billion in nominal terms. Some Allies will already reach the 5% target in 2026, far ahead of schedule. "The Ankara Summit will ensure that Allies are not only investing more, but investing in the right capabilities needed to keep us safe"

Defence industry

Strong deterrence and defence requires strong armed forces with the right equipment, including weapons, vehicles and new technologies. NATO is working with industry to increase production, strengthen supply chains and deliver the capabilities the Alliance needs, at speed and at scale. The NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara will showcase how industry is stepping up to keep the Alliance ready and prepared.

Support for Ukraine

"Our security is inextricably linked with Ukraine's". As Russia's war against Ukraine continues, Allies will continue to provide unprecedented levels of military assistance to Ukraine, supporting its ability to defend itself. The Ankara Summit will continue to build on NATO's support for Ukraine, helping the country meet its urgent defensive needs and ensuring that Allied military assistance remains sustainable for the long term.

(source: NATO, Brussels)