Amid escalating security challenges including the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, the world's attention turns to the Turkish capital Ankara, where leaders of NATO member states will gather tomorrow (Tuesday) for a two-day summit considered one of the most important for the alliance in recent years, under increasing pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to push European allies to fulfill their commitments to increase defense spending.

Demands for implementation, not pledges.

The summit will be attended by leaders of the 32 member states, along with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and several leaders from partner countries.

After successfully pushing NATO members at last year's summit to commit to raising defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, Trump now seeks to ensure those commitments are implemented on the ground, as part of his vision to redistribute defense burdens and reduce European dependence on the United States.

Leaders are expected to discuss ways to boost military production, accelerate defense manufacturing programs, and transfer greater security responsibilities to European countries, as Washington reviews its military presence on the continent.

Hormuz and Ukraine on the Summit Table

Developments in the Strait of Hormuz and the Iranian file top the summit's agenda, especially after recent tensions in the region affected navigation security and global energy supplies. Expectations indicate that the final communiqué will affirm the need to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait, while renewing the alliance's stance rejecting Iran's possession of nuclear weapons.

Leaders will discuss continued support for Ukraine against Russia, with expectations to maintain the levels of military and financial aid allocated to Kyiv through 2027, as European countries and the European Union continue to contribute to funding Ukraine's defense needs.

Defense Industries in the Spotlight

Alongside the summit meetings, NATO is hosting a defense industry forum, expected to announce agreements and joint production deals worth billions of dollars, aimed at boosting production capacity and accelerating the supply of modern weapons and systems to European armies.

Alliance leaders stress that the success of the spending strategy will not be measured by the amount of funds allocated, but by the ability of member states to convert them into practical military capabilities that enhance collective deterrence.

Turkey is using its hosting of the summit to highlight its growing role in defense industries and push for lifting restrictions on arms trade within NATO, while President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to discuss bilateral issues with his U.S. counterpart, foremost the resumption of Ankara's participation in the F-35 fighter jet program. The Ankara summit appears to be a new test of the alliance's ability to maintain cohesion amid growing security and political challenges.