NATO leaders met Tuesday for the first day of a two-day summit in the Turkish capital Ankara, at which defence spending, Ukraine, and alliance unity topped the agenda.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump to the Presidential Complex, after which the two leaders held one of the summit's most highly anticipated bilateral meetings.
In his first visit to Ankara since returning to office last year, Trump met with his Turkish counterpart behind closed doors to discuss defence cooperation, regional security, and broader strategic ties.
According to Turkish officials, discussions focused on U.S. sanctions imposed on Türkiye under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), Ankara's hope of rejoining a U.S.-led F-35 jet fighter programme, and expanding cooperation in the defence industrial field.
The summit brings together leaders from NATO's 32 member states at a time when the Western alliance is confronting Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, instability across the Middle East, and mounting pressure to strengthen its collective deterrent capacity.
At a high-profile NATO Defence Industry Forum held alongside the summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met NATO chief Mark Rutte, with whom he discussed military assistance to Kyiv, especially in terms of air defences.
Along with Ukraine, the summit’s first day was dominated by the issue of defence spending by allies.
In pre-summit remarks, Rutte urged NATO allies to step up investment in their military capabilities, as leaders seek to achieve a spending target of 5% of GDP on defence and security by 2035.
At the Defence Industry Forum, several multinational initiatives were unveiled to enhance the production of missiles, drones, air defence systems, and other vital military equipment.
The summit’s first day also saw continued debate over inter-alliance burden-sharing, with Trump again urging European allies to increase defence spending and stressing the need for a stronger NATO.
Leaders are set to continue talks on Wednesday before issuing a final declaration laying out NATO’s position on collective defence, defence-industrial cooperation, and continued support for Ukraine.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "g...
The lawyer representing social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate has accused U.S. authorities of "weaponising" the legal process against the b...
At least 30 people were killed after armed men attacked a village in Nigeria's northwestern Kaduna state overnight, according to local residents, in t...
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior Iranian source told on Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that there is a good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume military operation if negotiations fail.
The Russia-Ukraine war is increasingly reshaping the Caspian region. From threats to energy infrastructure to renewed diplomatic efforts, countries across the region are adapting to the wider consequences of a conflict that continues to disrupt trade, transport and security.
A New York school district has put plans to introduce a humanoid robot into classrooms on hold after fierce criticism from teachers, Indigenous community members and state education officials over the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
A known Islamist suspected of driving a minivan into a crowd near a major LGBTQ Pride gathering in Berlin was shot dead during a police operation at an allotment garden complex, broadcaster RBB reported on Sunday.
The lawyer representing social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate has accused U.S. authorities of "weaponising" the legal process against the brothers as they fight extradition to the UK.
At least 30 people were killed after armed men attacked a village in Nigeria's northwestern Kaduna state overnight, according to local residents, in the latest deadly assault highlighting the country's worsening security crisis.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "good chance" of a deal with Tehran but warned strikes could resume if talks failed.
A group of relatives of victims killed in the 11 September 2001, attacks have launched a petition calling for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to be barred from attending the 25th anniversary commemoration at Ground Zero, arguing that his presence would be inappropriate at the solemn event.
Three women were injured in a knife attack in Paris on Monday before bystanders overpowered the suspect and an off-duty police officer took him into custody, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment