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NATO leaders gather in Ankara Tuesday and Wednesday for a summit that could define the alliance's defense industrial future, with Türkiye positioned to showcase its growing arms industry and press Washington for the lifting of sanctions and renewed access to the F-35 fighter jet program.
All 32 NATO member-state leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, will attend the two-day gathering, the alliance's first in Türkiye since 2004.
Türkiye will use the summit to highlight its expanding defense industry and repeat its longstanding call for alliance members to lift all restrictions on defense trade within NATO, according to Reuters.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also expected to make progress with France and Italy on the purchase of SAMP/T missile defense systems and other defense industry cooperation.
In bilateral talks with Trump, Erdogan is expected to highlight improving ties between Ankara and Washington while pressing for the lifting of U.S. sanctions and renewed access to the F-35 program.
The summit will host a defense industry forum in Ankara on Tuesday, where deals worth tens of billions of dollars are expected to be announced, according to Reuters.
While last year's summit in The Hague focused on agreeing a new spending pledge, officials want this year's gathering to focus on scaling up weapons production and boosting defense innovation.
European leaders will aim to show Trump that they are delivering on a pledge made at last year's The Hague summit to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense and defense-related measures by 2035.
"In 2025, European Allies and Canada increased their investments in core defence requirements by more than $139bn," leaders are expected to say in a summit declaration, according to a text seen by Reuters.
"We are building the future: a stronger Europe in a stronger NATO, a modernized Alliance. European Allies and Canada, working with the United States, are assuming greater responsibility for the Alliance's defense," the declaration is expected to state.
NATO members are also expected to reaffirm support for Ukraine.
"For 2026, Allies pledge €70bn in military equipment, assistance and training for Ukraine and affirm their sovereign commitments to sustaining at least equivalent levels in 2027," leaders are expected to say.
Part of the funding will come from existing bilateral pledges and an EU loan facility providing €60 billion for Ukrainian defense investment and procurement for 2026-2027.
The United States is not expected to contribute funding.
European officials are concerned that Trump's irritation with European governments over their response to the Iran war could overshadow the summit.
In their summit declaration, leaders are expected to say that "allies reiterate that Iran must never have a nuclear weapon and call on Iran to fully respect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," according to the text seen by Reuters.
The Trump administration has pushed European allies to boost defense investment and take primary responsibility for the continent's defense.
Trump's frequent criticism of NATO, along with announced troop withdrawals from Europe and a six-month review of the U.S. military presence on the continent, has fueled uncertainty within the alliance.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, European Council President António Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to join a dinner with NATO leaders Tuesday evening.
NATO foreign ministers are expected to meet counterparts from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and to hold a dinner discussion with Ukraine's foreign minister and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
NATO defense ministers are also set to hold talks with ministers from Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.
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