NATO Ankara Summit 2026 Delivers New Defence Spending and Ukraine Support
ANKARA, Türkiye — NATO leaders have pledged to significantly expand defence spending, accelerate military procurement and maintain long-term support for Ukraine following the conclusion of the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara.
In a joint declaration released July 8, heads of state and government from NATO’s 32 member countries reaffirmed their commitment to collective defence under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, describing alliance unity as the foundation of peace, security and prosperity for more than one billion citizens across member nations.
Defence Spending Accelerates
NATO leaders said European allies and Canada increased investment in core defence requirements by more than US$139 billion during 2025 in response to what the alliance described as long-term security challenges posed by Russia and the continuing threat of terrorism.
Building on those investments, leaders announced plans for more than US$50 billion in new defence procurement initiatives aimed at expanding military capabilities and strengthening the alliance’s industrial base.
The declaration also commits NATO members to increasing collective manufacturing capacity, reducing defence trade barriers among allies and accelerating cooperation with industry to speed innovation and production.
This year, Canada came to NATO as a stronger, more capable partner — and we’re leaving with bold new plans and investments that will strengthen the Alliance and build a more secure, more prosperous world. pic.twitter.com/Iaw5sPHGi5
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) July 8, 2026
Modernizing NATO’s Military Capabilities
Alliance leaders outlined a broad modernization agenda focused on strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defence posture across multiple operational domains.
Among the priorities identified were investments in:
- Integrated air and missile defence
- Deep precision strike capabilities
- Uncrewed systems
- Artificial intelligence
- Space and cyber operations
- Intelligence capabilities
- A transatlantic warfighting cloud to improve interoperability
The declaration states that NATO’s deterrence strategy will continue to rely on a combination of nuclear, conventional and missile defence capabilities supported by advanced digital technologies.
Long-Term Support for Ukraine
Support for Ukraine remained a central focus of the summit.
NATO leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, noting that European allies and Canada now provide the majority of military assistance through bilateral and multilateral initiatives.
For 2026, NATO members pledged €70 billion in military equipment, training and security assistance for Ukraine while committing to maintain at least equivalent levels of support in 2027.
Leaders also welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide multi-year financing through the Ukraine Support Loan.
Addressing Global Security Challenges
Beyond Europe, NATO leaders said the alliance will continue adapting to an increasingly complex global security environment marked by strategic competition, hybrid threats and geopolitical instability.
The declaration reiterated that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon and called on Tehran to respect freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Looking Ahead
The Ankara Declaration concludes by reaffirming NATO’s commitment to collective defence and transatlantic cooperation while emphasizing that European allies and Canada are assuming greater responsibility alongside the United States for the alliance’s future security.
The summit ended with leaders expressing appreciation to Türkiye for hosting the gathering and confirming their intention to continue strengthening NATO’s defence capabilities in response to evolving global security challenges.
Source: Prime Minister’s Office / NATO Leaders’ Declaration, July 8, 2026.
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