NATO leaders reaffirm collective defense commitment at Ankara summit

NATO's 32 leaders, meeting in Ankara, have issued a joint declaration reaffirming their 'unwavering commitment' to Article 5 collective defense and the transatlantic bond. The summit came amid renewed criticism from US President Donald Trump, but allies stood together in a show of unity.

Key commitments

• Allies pledged to increase defense spending toward 5% of GDP, with European allies and Canada boosting investment by $139 billion in 2025. Source: Infobae
• They committed $50 billion to new acquisitions and accelerated innovation, including the Deep Precision Strike initiative for long-range missiles. Source: El Español
• Support for Ukraine was reaffirmed with a pledge of €70 billion in 2025. Source: El Español

Threats and future direction

• Russia is described as a 'long-term threat,' and terrorism as a 'persistent threat.' Source: Infobae
• On Iran, the declaration states 'Iran must never possess nuclear weapons.' Source: Infobae
• The allies emphasized a '360-degree approach' to deterrence and defense, with Europe and Canada taking on greater responsibility as the US shifts focus to the Indo-Pacific. Source: El Español

The summit also addressed concerns over Trump's past statements questioning NATO's value, but the final declaration underscored unity and burden-sharing.