The latest North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Summit has come and gone in the Turkish capital of Ankara, with headlines dominated predictably by US President Donald Trump, who lashed out at his allies for not supporting him against Iran. Prior to the event, he said he considered not attending, only to change his mind after the personal invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with whom there appears to be a warm rapport.
The world’s two most significant wars are being fought on NATO’s flanks, and in Türkiye’s neighbourhood: Ukraine to the west, and Iran to the east. The former has vexed NATO’s European members, who have wholeheartedly supported Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, while the latter was instigated by Washington and Tel Aviv. Israel is not a NATO member, and NATO was not consulted before the US-Israeli war against Iran began on 28 February, but Trump still blames NATO for not helping him reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway controlled by Iran that has been closed to merchant shipping since Iran was attacked.
This context helps to explain some of the tension ahead of the two-day summit, with Trump’s comments recent appearing to cast doubt on the continued validity of NATO’s Article 5. A common defence pact, it says that an attack on one is an attack on all and commits all members to come to the aid of the state suffering an assault.
Common ground
In the final communiqué, NATO countries confirmed their commitment to collective defence, but equally, leaders did not shy away from expressing their differences. Trump took aim at Spain, Turkish and Greek leaders emphasised their differences regarding the Aegean Sea, and the Prime Minister of Denmark reiterated that Greenland was not for sale, warning the US to keep its hands to itself.
Still, differences did not spoil the day. The Alliance found common ground and was able to move forward. Established just after World War II, it has shown a remarkable ability to adapt to developments over the years, which has helped make it one of the most effective forms of multinationalism of its kind. NATO refers to the present era as ‘Phase 3.0’ (the third phase). The first was the Cold War, the second covered the post-Cold War era, and the third began when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Last year in The Hague, NATO members committed to invest 5% of GDP annually on core defence- and security-related spending by 2035, and to further develop their defence industries. Last year, European allies and Canada increased their investments in core defence requirements by more than $139bn and announced another $50bn in new procurements.
They also want to expand their collective manufacturing capacity, working with industry to accelerate innovation, and the forum organised in Ankara as part of the Summit programme brought together member states and major defence companies, with several agreements signed.
Projects and investment
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte announced a multinational modernisation programme centred on the Airbus A400M transport aircraft and the Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport fleet, a joint procurement project for MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft (surveillance and reconnaissance), and replacing NATO’s ageing Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet.
Russia was identified as posing long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security and stability, and allies reiterated their support to Ukraine, pledging €70bn in military equipment, assistance, and training in 2026. Most of the security assistance to Ukraine is now provided by European states and Canada, to appease Trump that the conflict is no longer on US taxpayers.
