NATO Summit In Ankara: Who’s Attending And What’s On The Table?

Published 6 July 2026 · europe

NATO Summit In Ankara: Who’s Attending And What’s On The Table? Published By, Last Updated: July 06, 2026, 15:24 IST From Donald Trump’s push for

NATO Summit In Ankara: Who’s Attending And What’s On The Table? Published By, Last Updated: July 06, 2026, 15:24 IST From Donald Trump’s push for higher defence spending to Ukraine, Iran and Europe’s security future, here’s what is expected to dominate the two-day NATO summit in Turkey. Rapid Read Turkey and NATO flags wave ahead of the NATO summit, in Ankara, Turkey, July 4, 2026. (Image: REUTERS) NATO leaders will assemble in Ankara on Tuesday and Wednesday for a summit that could shape the alliance’s priorities for years to come. While the agenda spans Ukraine, Iran, defence production and regional security, one issue is expected to dominate discussions — whether European allies are moving fast enough to meet US President Donald Trump’s demand for higher defence spending. The gathering comes a year after NATO members, at the alliance’s summit in The Hague, agreed to work towards spending 5 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defence and defence-related measures by 2035. Ankara is widely being viewed as the first opportunity to assess how seriously that commitment is being implemented. US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker made Washington’s expectations clear ahead of the summit. “President Trump fully expects that all allies will step up immediately and get on the path to 5% and do it with urgency," Whitaker said, according to AP. The summit also comes after months of strains within the transatlantic alliance, fuelled by differences over the Iran war, Trump’s repeated remarks about Greenland, announced US troop withdrawals from Europe and Washington’s ongoing review of its military footprint on the continent. Why Is This Summit Different From Last Year? At last year’s summit in The Hague, Trump secured what had long been one of his biggest demands: broad agreement among NATO members to significantly increase defence spending over the coming decade. This year, the focus has shifted from making promises to demonstrating progress. Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, described the Ankara summit as the “first report card" after last year’s agreement.

“If NATO members play their cards right — if the leaders show up demonstrating a commitment and a reasonable plan to meet these spending targets — then it’ll allow President Trump to take a victory lap," Coffey told AP. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has also sought to highlight the alliance’s movement on defence spending. During an Oval Office meeting last month, Rutte presented charts showing what he called “The Trump Trillion", referring to the increase in defence spending commitments made by allies since 2017. A draft summit declaration seen by Reuters says: “In 2025, European Allies and Canada increased their investments in core defence requirements by more than $139bn." The declaration is also expected to state: “We are building the future: a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO – a modernised Alliance. European Allies and Canada, working with the United States, are assuming greater responsibility for the Alliance’s defence." Which Leaders Will Attend The Summit? Leaders of all 32 NATO member countries are expected to attend the summit, including Trump. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also travel to Ankara, with the White House confirming that he will meet Trump on Wednesday. The meeting follows Trump’s conversations with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 4. According to Reuters, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to attend a dinner with NATO leaders on Tuesday evening. Trump is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the summit host, and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The White House has not outlined the objectives of Trump’s meeting with al-Sharaa. However, AP reported that it comes after Trump publicly suggested Syria could play a larger role in confronting Hezbollah in Lebanon. Al-Sharaa, whose forces overthrew former Syrian President Bashar Assad, has said he has no interest in doing so. Alongside the summit, NATO foreign ministers are expected to meet counterparts from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reported.