started · updated
NATO summit in Ankara pledges €70 bn Ukraine aid and billions in defence contracts
Leaders of the 32 NATO member states met in Ankara and adopted a final declaration that reaffirmed collective defence under Article 5 and set out a series of concrete commitments.
The alliance pledged €70 billion in military aid to Ukraine for 2026 and 2027, including equipment, training and support for the country’s defence capabilities. Europe and Canada will shoulder the bulk of this assistance as the United States reduces its direct funding under President Donald Trump.
Allies announced new arms contracts worth more than $50 billion, covering Airbus A330 MRTT refuelling aircraft, Saab GlobalEye AWACS, and Northrop Grumman MQ‑4C Triton drones. A separate $40 billion programme will fund anti‑drone systems and expand drone‑operator training through 2027.
The summit also saw a push for European members to raise defence spending to 5 % of GDP and to increase collective industrial investment, with over $50 billion in new defence‑industry deals announced to strengthen the alliance’s industrial base.
Russia was described as a “long‑term threat”, and the declaration called for Iran to forgo nuclear weapons and respect free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Protests in Turkey criticised the summit as an “arms‑building” event.