NATO summit in Ankara to seal tens‑billion‑dollar defense contracts and €70 bn Ukraine aid

The NATO summit scheduled for July 7‑8 2026 in Ankara will serve as a platform for allies to sign new defense contracts valued at tens of billions of dollars. NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte said the deals aim to shift from niche high‑tech weapons to mass‑production of deep‑strike missiles, air‑defence systems and autonomous drones, while cutting bureaucracy in Washington. The alliance also plans to push member‑state defence spending toward a target of 5 % of GDP by 2035.

A separate package of about €70 billion in military aid for Ukraine is expected to be formalised, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy slated to attend the Ankara forum. The aid pledge, largely driven by European members and Canada, is not expected to include direct U.S. funding. Discussions will also address the planned reduction of U.S. forces in Europe, the burden‑sharing shift to European allies, and related security issues such as Iran’s stance on the Strait of Hormuz.