NATO summit in Ankara reaffirms Article 5, pledges €70 bn Ukraine aid amid US spending push
NATO leaders gathered in Ankara for a summit that reaffirmed the alliance’s Article 5 collective-defence pledge and announced a €70 billion aid package for Ukraine. According to DW, Dutch NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte worked to keep U. S. President Donald Trump engaged as the meeting prepared to address defence spending, industrial cooperation and continued Ukrainian support. CNBC reported that European leaders convened to discuss how higher defence budgets would translate into capability and to consider the prospect of a reduced U. S. role in the alliance. The same outlet noted that President Trump arrived in Turkey for the summit while the alliance faced intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine.
NPR said Trump reiterated his demand for allies to raise defence spending as NATO officials sought to preserve unity. CBS reported that Trump pressed member states to reach a 5 percent of GDP defence-budget target and highlighted a U. S. drawdown of troops in Europe and the strategic status of Greenland. AP noted that during the summit Trump ordered air strikes against Iran and cancelled a licence for Iranian oil sales, sparking tension with allies over strategic priorities. Fox News described Trump’s bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the final day, as allies also debated Ukraine’s shortage of Patriot missiles. The New York Times reported that Trump rebuked European partners for what he called insufficient defence spending and for lacking support in the Iran conflict while meeting Zelensky. AP again confirmed that NATO heads reiterated the Article 5 commitment and discussed possible future roles, including assistance to Ukraine’s Patriot air-defence production.
