Ankara hosts NATO summit hailed as diplomatic success

NATO concluded its summit in Ankara with leaders from 32 member states reaffirming collective defense commitments and the alliance's 5% defense spending target, as analysts hailed the gathering as a major diplomatic success for the host nation that underscored its growing importance to European security architecture. Secretary General Mark Rutte described the alliance as "stronger and more united than ever" despite political differences that resurfaced during the sessions with US President Donald Trump, while the declaration confirmed "ironclad" commitment to Article 5 alongside continued support for Ukraine.

Experts highlight Türkiye's contribution

Peter Watkins, associate fellow at London-based Chatham House, told Anadolu that "The Ankara summit has been a great success for Türkiye," adding that "Turkish diplomacy clearly played a key role in preparing the way for this summit, which has sustained the momentum of the changes that NATO needed to make - in defense spending, capabilities and so on." He noted that the gathering showcased "the important and distinctive contribution that Türkiye – including its capable armed forces and defense industry – makes to European security," a view reflected in the strategic partnership agreement signed with the UK on July 8. Watkins described the conclusions as "realistic, sustainable, and necessary" evidence that Rutte achieved his objectives.

Sharon Hudson-Dean, senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said Türkiye was "in many ways the right host" for the gathering, stating that "The Turkish military-industrial complex is advanced and a model for others, while Turkiye sits in a key region on NATO's southern border." She highlighted the relationship between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Trump as key to establishing a constructive atmosphere, noting that "President Erdogan and President Trump are well known to have a good relationship, allowing for a positive start to the American participation." Hudson-Dean also pointed to Defense Minister Yasar Guler's remarks that Ankara is exploring alternatives to the Russian-made S-400 system, and emphasized that the summit's central discussions on defense spending modernization and regional conflicts aligned with areas where Türkiye possesses considerable operational experience.

Alliance unity affirmed

Watkins emphasized that "NATO's center of gravity is its cohesion – shared values, interests and decades of close cooperation between its members at many levels of their governments and armed forces." He cautioned that "We shouldn’t draw definitive conclusions from what is said at these events, but look more upon what they decide – and whether they keep the alliance on a steady course." Hudson-Dean argued the summit exceeded expectations regarding unity, citing clear commitments on collective defense and Ukraine alongside Trump's full participation in all scheduled meetings, including his discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.