Summary:
Day 2 of the NATO Summit in Ankara on July 8, 2026, saw the Alliance adopt the Ankara Summit Declaration, reaffirming collective defence under Article 5 and recording a significant increase in European and Canadian defence spending. The declaration noted that European Allies and Canada had added more than $139 billion in core defence investments in 2025 and announced more than $50 billion in new procurements. NATO leaders also pledged €70 billion in military support to Ukraine for 2026, with a commitment to maintain at least equivalent levels in 2027. President Donald Trump made a series of blunt public statements throughout the day, declaring the ceasefire with Iran effectively over, criticising Spain as a “terrible partner in NATO,” and expressing frustration with several European allies over burden-sharing. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that he could not blame Trump for taking a forceful approach on defence spending, while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the recent U.S. strikes on Iran as “absolutely necessary” because Iran was violating the ceasefire. The summit also featured several major defence industry announcements, including the selection of Anduril UK for NATO’s air command and control modernisation programme and a U.S. decision to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defence systems.
Detailed Report
1. Adoption of the Ankara Summit Declaration and Defense Spending Surge
NATO leaders unanimously adopted the Ankara Summit Declaration, reaffirming the Alliance’s commitment to collective defense under Article 5. The declaration recorded a historic surge in European and Canadian defense spending, with expenditures now reaching approximately 4% of GDP—an increase of nearly 20% in one year and $258 billion in additional investment over two years. The new target, set at 5% of GDP by 2035, includes 3.5% for core defense and 1.5% for security-related expenditures. While countries such as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland already exceed 3.5%, others, including Spain, Italy, and the UK, lack concrete plans to meet the new benchmark. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised the Alliance’s progress, describing the summit as focused on delivery. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged that U.S. pressure, particularly from President Trump, had been effective in driving up European contributions.
2. President Trump’s Public Statements
President Trump made a series of direct and forceful public statements throughout the second day of the summit. He declared that the ceasefire understanding with Iran was, in his view, over, describing Iranian leaders as “scum” and “sick people.” He stated that when Iran hits, the United States hits “ten times harder” and confirmed he is on Iran’s “kill list,” while expressing indifference to the threat. Trump also voiced strong scepticism about any future diplomatic deal with Tehran, stating that he was unsure whether any agreement would hold given what he described as Iran’s pattern of dishonesty over 47 years.
Trump was equally blunt in his criticism of NATO allies. He singled out Spain as a “terrible partner in NATO,” accusing Madrid of failing to participate meaningfully or meet its financial obligations. He also expressed disappointment that several European allies, including Italy, the UK, Germany, and France, had not supported the United States during recent operations against Iran, particularly in relation to overflight rights and access to military bases. Trump further repeated his long-standing position that the United States should take control of Greenland, arguing it was necessary for the protection of the world.
3. European Responses to Trump
European leaders responded in different ways to President Trump’s comments on defence spending and the Iran campaign. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged that previous American presidents had politely urged Europe to increase its defence contributions, but said those requests had largely been ignored. He stated he could not blame Trump for applying more forceful pressure, pointing to the fact that the United States continues to account for around 80 percent of NATO’s defence resources while Europe accounts for only about 20 percent. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Trump had won the argument on NATO defence spending.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the recent U.S. strikes on Iran were “absolutely necessary” because Iran was violating the ceasefire. French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted Europe’s efforts to develop greater “strategic autonomy,” stressing the need for increased investment in sovereign defence capabilities. Despite these statements of progress, some officials expressed concern about underlying tensions within the Alliance, particularly around burden-sharing and differing views on how to manage the Iran situation.
4. Support for Ukraine and Security Assistance Initiatives
A central focus of the summit was support for Ukraine. NATO leaders pledged €70 billion in military equipment, assistance, and training for 2026, with a commitment to maintain at least equivalent levels in 2027. The establishment of the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU) was announced to coordinate the provision of military equipment and training. The Alliance reaffirmed Ukraine’s “irreversible path” to NATO membership. In a bilateral meeting, President Trump praised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his effectiveness in the war and announced that the U.S. would grant Ukraine the right to manufacture Patriot air defense systems domestically. This move aims to address Ukraine’s acute shortage of air defense interceptors, with American experts expected to guide Ukrainian engineers through the production process.
5. Major Defense Industry and Procurement Announcements
The Ankara Declaration recorded over $50 billion in new defense procurement deals, focusing on deep precision strike capabilities, integrated air and missile defense, uncrewed systems, and advanced technologies. Anduril UK was selected for NATO’s Air Command and Control Modernisation program, leading a nine-month evaluation phase for the Enhanced Air Command and Control (eAirC2) Data Platform. The NATO Drone Edge initiative was launched, with $40 billion earmarked for investment in uncrewed systems over five years and a commitment to train five times as many drone operators by the end of 2027. Additional announcements included a $4.5 billion plan to acquire up to 10 Saab GlobalEye surveillance planes to replace the aging AWACS fleet, a joint procurement project for MQ-4C Triton unmanned ISR aircraft, and a €27 billion investment to modernize NATO’s fuel storage and distribution infrastructure. Notably, $3 billion in new defense investments were announced specifically with U.S. companies.
6. Industrial Expansion, Innovation, and Multinational Programs
NATO unveiled the Engine initiative, establishing a network of factories and manufacturing facilities to expand defense industrial capacity, managed by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency. The Alliance also launched a critical minerals initiative to acquire, store, and manage stockpiles of defense-critical materials. Ongoing multinational aircraft programs were highlighted, including the modernization of Airbus A400M transport and Airbus A330 MRTT fleets, with additional MRTT deliveries planned. The summit saw the launch or expansion of the Strategy for Industry-NATO Cooperation, the NATO Innovation Scale-Up Package, the NATO Commercial Space Strategy, and the NATO Industrial Capacity Expansion Pledge. The NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum facilitated high-level engagement between NATO, Allied governments, and industry executives, with Turkish defense companies such as ASELSAN featured prominently. Türkiye contributed domestically produced observation satellites to NATO’s collective space capabilities.
Conclusion
Day 2 of the NATO Summit in Ankara was marked by both significant progress and ongoing differences. The adoption of the Ankara Summit Declaration, record increases in defense spending, and major procurement and industrial initiatives underscored the Alliance’s determination to adapt to a more dangerous security environment. At the same time, President Trump’s public statements and disputes over burden-sharing revealed the challenges of maintaining unity. The summit’s outcomes signal continued efforts to strengthen NATO’s capabilities, with the coming months set to test whether these commitments can be translated into sustained action.