politics
NATO Forum in Ankara to Feature Tens of Billions in New Defense Contracts
Alliance leaders will gather Tuesday evening after the industry forum unveils contracts for equipment including surveillance aircraft replacements. European members and Canada increased defense spending by $90 billion in real terms last year.
Jul 7, 2:55 AM·1m read3 sources
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NATO will present a series of new military contracts worth tens of billions of dollars at a defense industry forum in Ankara on Tuesday. The announcements are scheduled before alliance leaders gather for a summit that begins with a dinner the same evening. The deals include plans to replace the alliance’s aging fleet of surveillance aircraft.
-built AWACS planes. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said European members and Canada spent $90 billion more on defense in real terms in 2025 than in 2024, reaching more than $570 billion. He described the rise as a roughly 20 percent increase in a single year.
Some projects will draw on up to $170 billion in low-cost loans arranged by the European Union. Rutte said the goal is to convert economic resources into concrete military capabilities such as drones, missiles, and interceptors. Dutch Defence Minister Dilan Yesilgoz said her country will announce deals and plans worth more than €3 billion, including joint work with Belgium on air defense and with Britain on naval ships.
Several other governments are expected to reveal additional contracts at the forum. The summit venue is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s palace compound in Ankara.
