politics
NATO leaders to announce record defence spending at Ankara summit
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is set to highlight new spending commitments by European and Canadian governments at this week's summit. The gathering comes as the United States signals reduced military assets available to the alliance.
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is scheduled to open a defence industry forum in Ankara on Tuesday with announcements of new weapons contracts worth more than $14 billion. The commitments include a $1 billion order for 200 Patriot missiles for Poland and a $1.15 billion purchase of precision-guided artillery shells.
Additional contracts cover Arctic satellite communications and surveillance systems.
Spending increases Rutte plans to cite a $139 billion rise in core defence budgets by European and Canadian governments over the past year, a 20 percent increase. He is also expected to reference cumulative spending growth since the first Trump administration.
The summit agenda includes discussion of how to conclude Russia's war in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have conducted repeated long-range strikes on Russian oil and gas facilities and have advanced in drone and counter-drone technology. European governments are examining ways to address resulting capability gaps.
Summit format The meeting has been shortened to two days.
A draft declaration seen by Euronews includes language reaffirming the alliance's mutual defence commitment under Article 5, though the text remains subject to final approval by leaders.
