NATO Ankara Summit: European allies commit to 5% GDP defense spending by 2035

Ankara may have been the last NATO Summit for a while—and the allies made the most of it. Following NATO’s monumental agreement on defense spending last year at The Hague, expectations were modest for this year’s gathering, amid transatlantic tensions over Greenland, Iran, and European spending pledges. But before world leaders jetted off Wednesday, they agreed to a short communiqué (that notably did not commit to a summit next year), made progress on Alliance priorities, and created a few surprises and controversies along the way.

Below, Atlantic Council experts break down eleven outcomes from the gathering.

1. European Allies Showed Progress Toward 5 Percent

Driven by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s agenda, allied leaders arrived in Ankara ready to show the real progress they have made on defense spending since The Hague summit a year ago, when they agreed to commit 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to defense and defense-related spending by 2035. Pre-summit, Rutte had not been subtle in how he framed this and who he hoped to persuade, pitching additional European defense spending since US President Donald Trump first came to office as the “Trump trillion.” Last year alone, European and Canadian spending increased by 20 percent.

Translating budget increases into real, front-line capabilities takes time, and Rutte was at pains to explain that systems can’t immediately absorb new funds. But he knows that this argument has a shelf life. Through his focus on the Defence Industry Forum, Rutte highlighted how defense dollars are translating to defense deals. The deals announced in Ankara (see below) are a strong start, but Rutte will know that momentum needs to be maintained.

In this way, we are witnessing the development of a stronger Europe in a weaker NATO—a stronger Europe due to the progress Europeans are making in boosting their own defenses, and a weaker NATO due to the lack of clear commitment and leadership from the United States.

—Torrey Taussig is the director of, and a senior fellow at, the Transatlantic Security Initiative in the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. She previously served as director for European affairs on the White House National Security Council.

—Philippe Dickinson is a deputy director with the Transatlantic Security Initiative. He previously served as a career diplomat with the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office.

2. Article 5 Was Underscored

In the first line of the Ankara Declaration, allies reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to Article 5—the collective defense clause that binds NATO members to defend one another in the event of an attack. This reaffirmation came amid heightened concerns over the alliance’s unity and the reliability of US security guarantees under the Trump administration.

—Torrey Taussig and Philippe Dickinson

3. Allies Committed to $50 Billion in Defense Industry Deals

Allies announced a series of defense industry deals totaling $50 billion at the summit. These agreements span multiple domains, including air and missile defense, munitions production, and naval capabilities. The deals are intended to demonstrate that increased defense spending is translating into tangible military capabilities and industrial cooperation.

—LeAnne Noelani Howard

4. Iran Was on the Agenda—Just Not as Expected

Iran featured prominently in summit discussions, but not in the way many anticipated. Rather than focusing on Tehran’s nuclear program or regional proxies, the conversation centered on Iran’s growing military cooperation with Russia and its provision of drones and ballistic missiles used in the war in Ukraine. Allies expressed concern over the deepening defense relationship between Tehran and Moscow.

—Nate Swanson

5. Ukraine Came Away with Big Wins

Ukraine secured significant outcomes from the Ankara Summit, including new pledges of military aid, enhanced training commitments, and progress on interoperability with NATO forces. While full membership remains off the table for now, Kyiv received assurances of long-term support and a streamlined path toward eventual integration into the alliance.

—John Herbst

6. Trump Moved Turkey Closer to F-35s (Without Going All the Way)

President Trump signaled a willingness to reintegrate Turkey into the F-35 program, which was suspended after Ankara’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system. However, no final agreement was reached. The summit produced a framework for resolving the impasse, contingent on Turkey addressing US concerns over the S-400s.

—Grady Wilson

7. Trump Brought Greenland Back into the Spotlight

President Trump again raised the issue of Greenland, reiterating US interest in the strategically important Arctic territory. The discussion sparked renewed debate among allies about Arctic security and the need for a coordinated NATO approach to the region, particularly in light of Russian and Chinese activities there.

—Daniel Fried

8. Spain Was Singled Out

Spain faced criticism from allies for its comparatively low defense spending. Despite progress in recent years, Madrid remains below the 2 percent GDP threshold and has not yet outlined a clear timeline for reaching the new 5 percent target by 2035. Spanish officials defended their record, citing contributions to NATO missions and investments in specific capabilities.

—Andrew Bernard

9. Indo-Pacific Countries Were Left in Limbo

NATO’s Indo-Pacific partners—Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea—attended the summit but left with few concrete outcomes. While the alliance reaffirmed its interest in the region, no new partnership agreements or joint initiatives were announced, leaving these countries uncertain about the depth of NATO’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific.

—Markus Garlauskas

10. Trump Moved to De-List Syria as a State Sponsor of Terrorism

President Trump announced his intention to remove Syria from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move that caught many allies by surprise. The decision was met with skepticism by several European allies, who argued that the Assad regime has not met the conditions necessary for such a change. The issue is expected to be a point of contention in the coming months.

—Ibrahim Al-Assil

11. Albania’s Summit Next Year Is on Hold

The communiqué notably did not commit to holding a summit in 2027, which had been tentatively planned for Albania. The decision to leave the next summit unconfirmed reflects ongoing uncertainty about the alliance’s future schedule and the broader political dynamics within NATO. Albanian officials expressed disappointment but remained hopeful that the summit would eventually take place.

—Phyllis Berry