NATO Leaders Gather in Ankara for Two-Day Summit

NATO leaders are scheduled to convene in Ankara on Tuesday for a two-day summit focused on defense investment, Europe's defense industrial base, and long-term military support for Ukraine. The gathering follows an announcement by the Pentagon on May 1 to withdraw approximately 5,000 troops from Germany after a review of force posture in Europe.

The move comes amid ongoing discussions over alliance spending levels.

NATO has identified three main agenda items: increasing defense investment, expanding Europe's defense industrial base, and ensuring sustained military support for Ukraine. Allies pledged last year to spend the equivalent of five percent of GDP on defense, with European members and Canada increasing spending by $139 billion in nominal terms during 2025.

The summit occurs against a backdrop of friction between the United States and other alliance members. The U.S. administration has criticized European allies for not participating in efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz following the Iran conflict.

A U.S. withdrawal from NATO would require either a two-thirds Senate majority or an act of Congress. Officials have stated that NATO continues to enjoy broad support among legislators in both major U.S. political parties.

European defense spending rose 62 percent between 2020 and 2025, according to data cited in the coverage. Replacing critical U.S. conventional military capabilities would require roughly $1 trillion and could take a decade or more, the IISS estimates.

Europe's defense industry continues to face challenges expanding production capacity while many armed forces struggle with recruitment and retention.