09 July 2026

Nato allies presented a united image when the Ankara summit concluded. The closing statement highlights that Europe along with Canada will take on more of the defence load going forward. Strategies were outlined for substantial funding in the defence sector and upgrades to national militaries. Ukraine also received commitments for 140 billion euros in military support across two years. Various outlets offer their assessments.

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Political analyst Linas Kojala sums it up for Delfi:

"The gathering wrapped up on a note of cohesion that cannot be assumed anymore. This does not erase all frictions inside the group. The overall climate stays unsettled and unpredictable. Yet the core takeaway holds: regardless of the turbulence, Nato will chart a path ahead. The US endorsement of the final text shows Washington has no intention of full disengagement, even as duties shift among members. All forecasts of 'Nato's demise' prove overstated."

Handelsblatt however notes that little of the original alliance endures:

"Once more the outspoken leader voiced disdain for Atlantic partners, despite European efforts to smooth things over. This leaves open questions about what is left of the shared defence pact when trust in American dedication has eroded on this side of the ocean. The Article 5 commitment now rests on shaky ground, sustained less by treaty text than by bonds among partners who once held common principles. Those bonds have already frayed."

El Mundo views the results favourably:

"The Ankara meeting closed with more gains than setbacks. Amid repeated US threats to exit the alliance, it preserved political togetherness for now. Europe's chief gain is extra time to strengthen its forces without immediate abandonment by its primary ally against the Russian challenge. Trump remains an ongoing factor of doubt. This pushes Europe to advance more decisively toward its own political cohesion and military self-reliance, a direction ironically spurred by Trump himself."

Avvenire expresses concern over the growing focus on arms:

"Mark Rutte exemplifies this trend. He endorses Donald Trump's claims about fresh actions against Iran. He accepts criticism of Spain even though it belongs to the group. Most notably he discusses massive weapons contracts with evident zeal, praising advanced munitions, unmanned systems, naval vessels and rockets. Rutte stands as just one example of a zeal that spreads widely. Even European institutional heads join in without restraint, as though the seriousness of the situation and its historical weight have been forgotten."

Milliyet sees the summit's main success as economic rather than diplomatic:

"In this new era of trade-focused policies, defence and commerce now intertwine closely. Weapons production, tech, power sources, AI and logistics form a single web. Should Turkey leverage its position to develop an economy centred on advanced manufacturing, higher exports and improved global standing, the summit will deliver enduring commercial advantages beyond any diplomatic gains."

Corriere della Sera highlights Ukraine's gains:

"A year and a half earlier Volodymyr Zelensky faced sharp rebukes from Donald Trump and J.D. Vance at the White House. Since then Ukrainian forces and innovation have altered battlefield realities, which in turn influence Trump. The Pentagon recognised Ukraine's value as a strategic asset and began sourcing drone expertise from Kyiv. In Ankara Trump even floated the idea of licensing local production of Patriot missiles. This marks a striking reversal."