NATO Summit in Ankara Focuses on European Defense Spending

Allied governments will gather this week in Ankara to address defense spending and U.S. military commitments in Europe. The meeting follows last year’s pledge to reach 5 percent of GDP on defense and security priorities by 2035. Several countries, including Poland and the Baltic states, already allocate that share.

Germany has increased outlays after years of lower spending and aims to field the continent’s strongest conventional force within the decade. Officials intend to urge faster progress while avoiding abrupt changes that could leave gaps in coverage.

The Pentagon’s January 2026 National Defense Strategy states that Europe should assume primary responsibility for its own conventional defense. A transition framework is under discussion to set timetables and clarify which tasks will remain under U.S. oversight.

In May, the Pentagon canceled a planned rotational deployment of an Armored Brigade Combat Team to Poland. The decision prompted concern among eastern-flank governments until officials later indicated a shift of some forces from Germany to Poland. Building housing and support infrastructure for those units is expected to take years.

As an interim step, officials are considering resumption of the canceled rotational deployments.

Ukrainian forces have slowed Russian advances and regained limited territory in recent months. Kyiv has also expanded its use of long-range drones against Russian energy and industrial sites, contributing to fuel shortages inside Russia. European Union financing has stabilized Ukrainian government accounts, and Kyiv has formed new army corps to improve command and control.

Russian territorial gains have become smaller and more costly. Officials at the summit are expected to press for any future negotiations to reflect current battlefield conditions rather than earlier maximalist demands.