NATO leaders will meet in Ankara next week for a high-stakes summit focused on defence spending, support for Ukraine and relations with U.S. President Donald Trump, as European allies seek to present a united front despite transatlantic tensions.
The gathering on Tuesday and Wednesday will bring together leaders from the 32-member alliance, with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte saying the meeting will demonstrate that European allies are increasing their defence commitments and strengthening deterrence against Russia.
European officials hope to avoid public friction with Trump, who has repeatedly criticised NATO allies over defence spending and questioned the value of U.S. commitments to the alliance.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused the United States of spending money to protect NATO members "without getting any benefit", reviving long-standing tensions over burden-sharing.
Despite this, NATO officials insist the alliance remains central to U.S. security interests and say European members and Canada are increasing their share of defence responsibilities.
Rutte said the summit will focus on translating higher defence budgets into operational military capability, including a significant expansion of Europe's defence industry.
He said NATO members in Europe and Canada increased defence spending by around $90 billion in 2025 compared with the previous year, bringing total spending to more than $570 billion.
Allies have agreed to aim for defence spending of 3.5% of GDP on core military requirements by 2035, alongside an additional 1.5% on broader security investments, including cyber defence.
Leaders are expected to reaffirm long-term military support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy scheduled to attend a dinner hosted by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Erdoğan is also expected to hold bilateral talks with Trump during the summit, underscoring Türkiye's growing diplomatic role within the alliance.
Officials acknowledge that recent disputes, including Trump's criticism of allies and previous tensions over Iran and Greenland, could complicate discussions.
The U.S. has also reduced troop deployments in Europe and launched a review of its military presence, raising concerns among European allies about long-term security commitments.
A senior European diplomat described the alliance as "alive and kicking but a bit bruised", reflecting unease over internal divisions despite continued cooperation.
Rutte said NATO remains a "transatlantic alliance" but stressed the need for Europe and Canada to take greater responsibility for conventional defence in Europe.
"We need to rebalance it for the better," he said, adding that stronger European defence capabilities would complement, rather than replace, U.S. leadership.
Despite the tensions, NATO officials say they expect the Ankara summit to avoid major confrontation and instead focus on reinforcing unity and long-term strategic planning.
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