NATO’s Ankara Summit Faces Pressure Over Burden Sharing and Ukraine

The alliance faces a pivotal shift in its internal dynamics, marked by a commitment to reach 5 percent of gross domestic product on defense investments by 2035. According to a draft declaration, European allies and Canada boosted military spending by over 139 billion dollars in 2025, a figure intended to satisfy Washington’s demands for increased burden sharing. Beyond fiscal targets, the summit aims to solidify a 70 billion euro aid package for Ukraine for 2026, relying primarily on European Union financing and bilateral agreements as U.S. contributions become increasingly uncertain.

Turkey’s Strategic Positioning

Host nation Turkey is leveraging the summit to elevate its domestic defense industry and secure high-level concessions. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intends to use bilateral talks with President Trump to push for the removal of existing sanctions and a potential reentry into the F-35 fighter jet program. Simultaneously, the alliance will host a defense industry forum to finalize agreements on weapons manufacturing and technological innovation, reflecting a broader push to replenish stockpiles depleted by ongoing global conflicts. While the summit serves as a platform to project unity, it underscores a fundamental transition: Europe is being forced to accelerate its military independence, testing whether it can sustain long-term support for Kyiv and maintain regional security without the historical level of reliance on the United States.